Swiss Academy for Development

In advanced dressmaking and tailoring classes, apprentices learn to make school uniforms and men’s trousers.

Swiss Academy for Development

Shirts require skill withthe sewing machine too.

Swiss Academy for Development

Most trained mobile phone repairers develop business in their own village.

Swiss Academy for Development

As a side-line, they download music from the internet straight onto customers’ mobile phones.

Swiss Academy for Development

The khukuri is a traditional knife that is indispensable for daily life in Nepal.

Swiss Academy for Development

The traditional wooden scabbard with hand-carved motifs makes the khukuri a favourite gift and the khukuri-maker an artisan.

Swiss Academy for Development

At seven days, the course for becoming a rope maker is one of the shortest.

Swiss Academy for Development

The apprentices twist the rope by hand or with help from machines. The rope is made of babio, a tough grass that grows at the foot of the Himalayas.