Lily's Leaves

Lily's Leaves is a social enterprise founded in October by businesswoman Lily Katuwal KC (hence the organisation's name). Lily is also the CEO. The organisation provides training and employment to vulnerable young women, with a core workforce of young women who are deaf. Since July 2023, Lily's Leaves has been pushing back against rapidly deteriorating air quality in Kathmandu valley, a situation exacerbated by Climate Change. The organisation is unique in running an urban reforestation programme using the rapid-growth 'Miyawaki Method' to transform waste ground into rich forests. These grow ten times quicker that forests planted conventionally, cooling and cleaning the air while restoring biodiversity. To date, seven forests have been planted and two sapling nurseries created to support this and future work. The success is in large part through Lily's ability to marshal support from the authorities and local community, even encouraging the Nepal Army to volunteer their services.