Beyond the Smile

Nepali village women - that feminine power at the core of communities. Broadening its reach and influence by empowering women through basic women healthcare, literacy, numeracy and community business development.
Helping Girls who go to high school but do not get a diploma and adult women, working the land, by listening, and working together on solutions, as part of the community.

Men and women of around the world working together at community level to improve the lives of all through collaboration and socially and ecologically sustainable lifestyles.

By presenting life beyond the smile, I am hoping to share with Westerners a reality of life and culture different from theirs, one which does not have lack of money at its core, but love of the community and its members. This example might inspire them to bridge the gap between the aspirations of the individual, and the one step at a time rewards of becoming part of a community, whether at home, or in Nepal and other places.
The second goal is to continue the personal empowerment and community development programs in the Gyamdanda Community Forest Villages (four villages, of which Lura is one).
Eventually I would like to see the implementation of the evolving program around other Community Forests, in collaboration with other organisations working the same areas.

I want people to become part of the story, by seeing what they can do to be part of their local community. This can be achieved by sharing the short form video series through a platform such as www.patreon.com, to allow screenings in schools, communities, organisations and at home. A supporting educational guide devised with local people would be available on the beyondthesmile website to facilitate the process.
Firsthand experience is also available by participating in treks to the area and living with the people of the village in Nepal.

I have a set of expanding contacts experts on women and girls issues, such as Slisha in Nepal, or Isabel Armer in Australia, Australian Himalayan Foundation, the Hillarys,..

I would love to see groups of both students and elders, whether in the same age group or mixed, experience what I did in Nepal. I feel that the love generated by those treks, meshing cultures and different ages and social backgrounds, is what I want to see more off on this beautiful planet. So what I’d love to see, is being approached by people keen to experience life.

There is a lot of information out there, and how can you ever be certain to be heard by the right people, those that will benefit and be of service both? You just have to see it happen, feel it in your heart, and the universe will deliver. It is law. 