Rita ThapaNepal Third Board Chair Global Fund for Women Her involvement with the Global Fund began as a grantee (Women for Human Rights) working against trafficking. She founded ABC, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nepal campaigning to eradicate trafficking of rural girls. While serving as Chair of the Board of the Global Fund, and attending the UN Conference on Women in Beijing, Rita was inspired to found Tewa (which means support). She persuaded some of her friends to part with their gold jewelry to make the first investments in what would become the first Nepalese women’s fund. Ultimately, Tewa seeks to reduce Nepal’s dependence upon foreign donors, while fostering a culture of philanthropy for social change and women’s rights. It does that by encouraging Nepalis to make regular donations, regardless of the size, to both advance women’s rights and sustainable development for the country. Rita was widowed early in her married life and as a single mom with three kids she has been involved in working for widows’ rights, a group discriminated against in Nepal.
Honored by the Global Fund for Women |
