Stitching the path to empowerment

La Dhoka’s sewing courses offer women more than tailoring skills—they provide a sense of community.

Kusma Kumari Magi carefully folds the black cloth on the ground before her, then reaches for the notebook beside it. Her eyes go back and forth between the cloth and the paper for a while before she grabs a piece of chalk and enlarges the drawing onto the cloth. Currently rectangular, it is soon to become a pair of pants. The notebook tells Magi how to get there.