SOFON and KALAGUTHI

SOFON (The Society of Friends of Nepal) is a Canadian registered NGO, registered in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Since its inception in 1987, it has been providing training in various textile and sericulture skills to underprivileged women and youth of Nepal through its agent Kalaguthi in Nepal.

KALAGUTHI (Nepal Srijanatmak Kala Guthi) is an agency of SOFON to implement SOFON's training programs in Nepal. It is a training institute based in Nepal, operating under Mahatma Gandhi's principles of equality, self-reliance and service. Since 1977 it has been providing basic and advanced raining in various textile and other craft-making skills to women and youth from underprivileged communities of Nepal. Since 1993, it has introduced full-scale training in the production of silk products starting with mulberry plantation, rearing silk worms, and silk spinning, rearing, weaving, and dyeing. Since May 2007 Kalaguthi has been affiliated with the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Government of Nepal.

Urmila Garg is the founder and coordinator of both organizations.