Last year the Lily's Leaves tailoring training went rural, transferring from Kathmandu to Madhesh Province, closer to the trainees' homes. This group of 16 teenage girls and young women have just completed their six months' intensive training and can now go independent or work with others in little tailoring businesses. We help them get started also by donating sewing machines and tables. This will be hugely transformative for them, giving them a good income that doesn't arise from labouring in the fields. Congratulations to all concerned in Nepal and thank you to the Pipal Tree supporters who have funded this, including through Big Give appeals. (fb)

In the midst of the serenity of Swayambhu, the 'Queen of the JCB', Lily Katuwal is transforming the landscape to how it should be. Lily and her team at Lily's Leaves are preparing the land for replacing non-native pines (or at least trimming them so that they don't shed anymore acidic needles) with native broadleaf species using the rapid-reforestation Miyawaki Method. All with the guidance of local experts in botany. It looks really radical but it's the only way to do it as the ground is so solid underfoot. Go, Lily, go! As we say in English, 'You can't make an omelette without cracking an egg'. (fb)