Our story

In 2006,  two members of the Samunnat Inc. committee, Malcolm and Wendy Moore, were living in eastern Nepal and met Kopila Basnet.  Kopila and some friends had started Samunnat Nepal to empower women who were victims of violence. We were impressed by the group’s integrity, passion and commitment to women-led change. 

We’d seen, first hand, the problems associated with Nepal’s dependence on foreign aid. Corruption is endemic. Aid can be well-intentioned but harmfully paternalistic. Poor communication between many international and local NGOs creates duplication of work, stretches limited funding and prevents effective change.  We wanted to establish a sustained relationship with Samunnat Nepal so that we could assist them to do what they identified would help the women.

Wendy was invited to work with the group to train them in jewellery making. For four years she worked with the group every second week and Malcolm visited regularly. Friends and family members who visited Samunnat Nepal were equally impressed by the values and work of the group and wanted to help. Wendy and Malcolm returned to Australia and continued the informal relationship. Then, Samunnat Inc was formed and registered in 2014.

Some of us still visit Nepal regularly. All of us feel extremely fortunate to be a part of the Samunnat family. We have witnessed the transformation of lives and seen how the wider community thrives when women are provided with resources, skills, encouragement and a voice. 

We are an entirely voluntary organisation and 100% of the funds raised go directly to support the work of Samunnat Nepal.

From 2024, Samunnat Inc is also receiving generous support from the J.C. Freeman Trust. This honours the memory of Mike Leak, a much loved friend, who died of cancer in 2011.