R.E.N.E.W. - Respect Educate Nurture & Empower Women
Epic supports the work of RENEW, a grass roots, not for profit organisation established by Queen Ashi Choden Sangay Wangchuk and dedicated to the development of women and children in Bhutan. The organisation is committed to preserving the valuable traditional skills of Bhutanese women such as weaving and textile production and a number of these projects are developing opportunities for women to showcase their work and creating markets for it. Let Epic arrange for a representative from RENEW to meet you and escort you to the Queen’s weaving centre and textile museum. Meet the women who have been supported by the programme, hear their stories and learn more about what RENEW is doing in some of the most remote corners of the kingdom.Carolyn Hamer-Smith (Epic’s Bhutan Specialist, along with Michelle Hogan) has also had the rare privilege of living and working in Bhutan for two years as a consultant for the United Nations World Food Programme. During this time Carolyn trekked into some of Bhutan's most remote corners as part of her work with the School Feeding Programme, visiting schools three or four days walk from the road.
Carolyn's work with the United Nations also exposed her to the work of RENEW. In 2008, whilst escorting a group to Bhutan (to witness the Coronation of the 5th King which co-insided with celebrations marking 100 years of the monarchy), she was officially invited by Her Majesty to become an International Ambassador for RENEW. Carolyn has worked in both Japan and Australia since, advocating the work of Her Majesty and RENEW and develops touring programmes that offer guests a unique, hands-on opportunity to connect with the people of Bhutan through visiting RENEW projects and meeting the women that the projects support.
If you would like to learn more of these projects and support the women of Bhutan, please contact us.