Many local Nepalese women will be participating in this race for the first time, sharing their cultures, dance, songs, food, music, and stories with other village women and women from around the world; most importantly, there will be an opportunity for all women to explore and offer ideas about how women can work together to solve the many challenges that everyday women face within their individual lives, families, communities, and countries.

One of the many objectives of this cultural trail race is to support women in Nepal who have never participated in any of kind of sport by giving them this opportunity to test and prove their strength and capability, creating hope in their lives that they can do more than they thought possible, and giving them hope and strength to continue to challenge any limitations and break down the barriers they face every day. It doesn’t even matter if they don’t finish the race – the opportunity, excitement of participation, learning from and bonding with other women will ignite their passion and hope for a better life without passively accepting limitations.

To us at The Small World, the most beautiful part of this race is for all women to better understand their inner and outer worlds and to work together toward mutual goals while experiencing local cultures and views of the beautiful Himalayans. This race is carefully designed to expose participants to spectacular sights and beauty as well as local village life and monasteries to inspire and expand their view of possibilities in their lives.

The Small World's Director and Co-Founder, Sonam Doka Sherpa, will be discussing the issues of trafficking, early marriage, and the challenges women face within their families and communities in remote areas. We also advocate to stop early marriage and will discuss the impact of early marriage that continues the cycle of poverty. One of our goals is for this trail race to help create awareness by breaking social barriers.

Some of our rescued girls (many of whom speak English) will be participating in this run; participating runners will also see firsthand the Himalayan Hope Home in Kathmandu that houses and supports orphan girls and their education, and the Girls’ Higher Education Program in Solukhumbu.

This First International Women’s Trail Race will take place in the Everest region of lower Solukhumbu. We will be running an average of 12-15 kilometers every day. During the race, our highest point will be 3800 meters at Pikey Peak, and within our views will be Everest and many peaks over 8,000 meters, including a spectacular peak of 7,961 just in front of us.

In Taksindu, at the end of the trail race, The Small World will hold the first ever local Women’s Conference. This event will include many women leaders, girls who are pursuing higher education, women teachers, and professional women from different backgrounds sharing their stories and experiences. All runners will have the opportunity to meet these women, share with them, and gain a wider, deeper perspective of challenges and opportunities for women.

Taksindu is also the home village of Dawa Dachhiri and he spent his childhood in the Taksindu monastery as a monk and Dachhiri has deep connection with the monastery and local community members. Therefore, in his initiation, Dachhiri Dawa built an Old Age Home called “Phami Jukhang ", where over 20 old people are benefiting from his giveback and during the race, you will be visiting this Old Age Home. Buddhist Puja ceremony in the monastery, where Dachhiri grew up, having meditation to understand and know yourself , sharing tea and stories with lama would be food for your soul.

We hope you will join us in this incredibly rewarding trail race! It will truly be a life changing experience for many women including, we hope, you! It’s an amazing first of its kind opportunity to engage in a challenging and fun sports activity, meet women from diverse backgrounds and experiences, exchange views and ideas, experience different cultures, enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and bond together as women for strength toward a better future, better equality, and a better world. And have a great time!