KATHMANDU, JULY 27
A trekking guide training organised for sexual and gender minorities organised by Nepal Mountain Academy and Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP) - an initiative of Nepal Tourism Board and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - has concluded successfully.
The 35-day training marked the first-of-its-kind in the country, with participation of 25 individuals from the LGBTIQ+ - an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer - community.
During the certificate distribution ceremony, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati emphasised the significance of this programme as a powerful message to the society.
He highlighted the importance of providing equal employment opportunities to all members of the society and expressed confidence that the training would enable LGBTIQ+ individuals to find work in the tourism sector and become self-employed.
Minister Kirati said this initiative will not only send a positive message, but also generate employment and attract international visitors to Nepal.
Kalpana Sarkar, the portfolio manager of UNDP Nepal, acknowledged the challenges of mainstreaming minorities in society and expressed hope that this training would contribute to improving the livelihoods of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Maniraj Lamichhane, director of Nepal Tourism Board and national programme coordinator of the project, stated that the project aims to conduct various tourism-related trainings and believes that this particular training will play a significant role in drawing LGBTIQ+ individuals from around the world to Nepal.
Arjun Rai, executive director of Nepal Mountain Training Institute, said that this inclusive training would create new employment opportunities for sexual and gender minorities.
Shulabh Moktan, one of the participants, shared how the training has boosted their confidence and better equipped them to achieve their goals.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 28, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
