The Mystic Masala and Wild Earth Coop in Nepal

Wildcrafted in Nepal Mystic Masala

The relationship between The Mystic Masala and Wild Earth runs deep. On a recent visit to the cooperative, spice mistress and founder, Glynnis Osher connected with the women in a personal and meaningful way. Whilst talking with the women about their lives an amazing project was discovered.

Devi Sunawar is part of a strong team of successful, hard-working women at Wild Earth. As well as producing the natural, fair trade body care products at the cooperative, Devi has a plan, a project in place, to provide shelter, support, education and training to orphaned and displaced children of the region.The majority of families in rural Nepal are seasonally forced to leave their villages for hard labour in the cities. It is common for small children to be brought along to work because they simply cannot be left behind to fend for themselves.

Devi’s young daughter, Maina, was fifteen years old and hard at work to address these social issues, when she was abducted by the Royal Nepal Army. Maina was detained and accused of collaborating with Maoists. She was tortured and subsequently killed by the Army, her body was never returned to her family. Maina had long wanted to campaign for the betterment of her community for the people. In memory of Maina’s death and to keep her wishes alive, her own family and community have created the Maina Child Development Committee (MCDC), a not-for-profit organization created to continue Maina’s fight and fulfill her ambitious vision. As a result of Devi’s work, there is a glimmer of hope for the children. The MCDC has put into action a project to provide shelter, nutrition, education and vocational training for orphaned and displaced children. The hopes though do not stop there. With a five year plan in place the intention is to build a permanent home and school and to create an infrastructure for vocational training for 100 children from the community. The plan also takes into consideration the needs of the local community and the MHDC intends to construct a meeting location for women's groups.

The Mystic Masala and its employees have collaborated to donate funds towards the development of Maina’s Home for Children. Our ongoing commitment through supporting the Women’s Cooperative, has made it an important part of our extended community. The Mystic Masala donates the equivalent funds to cover the annual rent for the land and the buildings for Phase I of the project. Additional funds are required to construct a home and school, to provide food, medical supplies and clothing for the children. The Mystic Masala has pledged to help the MCDC find other donors to make this project come to successful completion. The site is located at the edge of protected forest land, providing a healthy, natural environment for these children to live. The nature of the new site is appropriate when you consider Devi’s and the other women’s work at Wild Earth of infusing wild-crafted herbs in sumptuous essential oils, adding flowers, herbs and spices together to create a beautiful product. The work of the Cooperative can be mirrored in the infusion of stability, love, education and nurturing for a child.

If you would like to contribute to this amazing project, please send an email to: info@themysticmasala.com