Thelma & Louise Australia (T&LA) is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation which raises funds to advance the health, education and social welfare of women, young people and children in Australia and other countries, including in Nepal.

In October 2019 another fundraising adventure expedition is planned: intrepid teams of three will ride motorcycles in the Lower Mustang Valley of Nepal. Unfortunately, for anyone who is excited by this prospect, this expedition is now fully booked out.

We're continuing to support the village of Baseri in Nepal where the Community Centre is now used on a daily basis for various training activities; for example, how to care for citrus and orange trees and bee-keeping and meetings like the AGM of the Sherang Jyo Agriculture Cooperative which is flourishing.

Two T&L Australia members returned to Baseri in November 2018 to help out in the school. They provided resources and worked with the children and two teachers who have been funded by T&L. They also bought a lockable cupboard for the health room and provided basic medecines. Great news is that the government now provides a health worker to make a monthly visit to the village.

In the lower village, a daily two-hour literacy course was conducted over a six-month period. Many women cannot read and write in Nepali or English and they enjoy coming together to learn.

We continued to sponsor children to complete their schooling in Kathmandu and support two additional school teachers in Baseri where the government has finally almost completed the school; nearly four years since the earthquake destroyed the previous one.

A third sewing course has given a group of women excellent skills to make clothing for children and families and events and festivals. Women are now producing and selling items locally and we are hoping to find overseas markets. One woman now operates a sewing business from the Community Centre and pays rent to the Co-operative.

T&LA continues to organize expeditions where women of all ages, races, religion and background go on an adventure. On our expeditions women learn from each other, push limits, expand tolerance, gain more passion for life and have fun while they are raising funds.

Upcoming expedition:

The next fundraising expedition is in 2019 when the adventure is to take six teams of three women (two to ride and one to be the support person in an accompanying van) to ride motorcycles in the Lower Mustang Valley

Past expeditions and fundraising:

• 2018 - no expedition. $10,000 raised through donations and a movie night
• 2017 - $15,000 raised through various activities including crowdfunding, a movie night and a dance night.
• 2016 - $20,000 raised from an expedition to France where 20 women travelled down canals in Brittany; $13,000 raised from sponsorship
• 2015 – $30,000 raised through direct donations, weekly barbeques, dinners, local fundraising to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015
• 2014 - $25,000 raised through several expeditions to Nepal. This funding was allocated to a new children’s hostel in Batase village
• 2012 - $50,000 raised for Friends of the Himalayan Children Inc through a major expedition when women rode postie bikes from Darwin to Cairns, Australia. Funds were used to commence a new hostel for children in Batase village in Nepal
• 2007 - $10,000 for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter mainly through an auction and an expedition from Cairns up Cape York Peninsula
• 2006 – Early days of Thelma & Louise. A small expedition from Darwin to Broome via the Kimberley raised $360 for Ruth Women’s Shelter in Cairns, Australia

In 2017 we supported a project in Baseri for women to gain skills in sewing to enable them to make products for sale. $5000 was allocated over 6 months to purchase three sewing machines and materials and to fund a project manager and a trainer. The training took place in the new Community Centre and 11 women proudly graduated from the course in November 2017.

Another course in 2018 resulted in the women now having advanced level skills and doing more complicated sewing for themselves, their families and for sale.

Sponsorship:
Members and supporters arrange direct monthly debits to our bank account – Westpac Community Solutions Account no. 512 396; BSB: 034 167 - to sponsor either school children or teachers.

We were supporting seven children to complete their education – school fees, accommodation, uniforms, food etc - but tw0 have now finished schooling. We now support five students, including Ujeli from the remote village of Selang. We also funded the salary of two teachers in the Baseri School.

Events:
Members take the initiative to organize events that bring people together and also raise funds. We have had film nights, barbeques, dance nights, dinners, auctions, raffles, theatre evenings, breakfasts . . . any idea that members can create.

Expeditions:
Expeditions provide the bulk of our funding.

Business Sponsorship:
Many businesses have supported us by donating such things as prizes to be auctioned, equipment, vehicles, web design, raffle prizes, T-shirts, accommodation.

We welcome new sponsors and recognize your support through the website, social media and local media items which report on our activities.

T&LA was initially named Thelma & Louise Expeditions. It began in 2006 when two women enjoyed an adventure – travelling from Darwin to Broome – while they raised funds for Ruth’s Women’s Shelter which supports women in Cairns, Australia.

In recent years T&LA has grown, diversified its fundraising activities and gained registration with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission.

It raises funds to support:

• organisations and communities whose goal is community and social development; and
• individuals who require assistance to complete their schooling and acquire skills to earn an income or to establish small micro-businesses.

Members of T&L Australia pay a $25 annual fee.

Funds are also raised through direct donations, sponsoring of women and children, raffles, film nights, auctions, dinners, theatre nights, barbeques . . . and any other method members come up with.

100% of all funds raised goes directly to groups in need
ZERO administration fees.

Thelma & Louise Nepal (T&LN) is our sister organisation, created in June 2015 after the terrible earthquakes on 25 April and 12 May 2015. T&LA moved quickly to hold fund-raising events and sent over $20,000 to Nepal for immediate relief in ten villages.

Thelma & Louise France, established in 2017, are also great supporters, undertaking various activities to raise funds. In 2019 they will fund one teacher in Baseri village.

In 2006 two girlfriends embarked on a journey to the Kimberleys in Western Australia to experience a fun-filled adventure. The outcome was a better understanding of cultural differences, team work, an appreciation of the wilderness and strengthening of their friendship. From sharing their experience by word of mouth and film, money was raised for Ruths Womens Shelter. Due to an overwhelming response and interest in the whole idea of two girls getting away from it all, "Thelma & Louise Expeditions" was born.

On expeditions, everyone 'chips in' and participates in the day to day organization, chores and responsibilities. Everyone needs to be prepared to "rough it" a little.

The journeys are ones of laughter, love, adventure and a lot of storytelling. With care, tolerance and respect we reflect on our perceptions of each traveller's journey through life's phases. They are about widening our horizons, stretching our boundaries, going where we have never been and doing what we have never done. Whether it be sitting under the stars, cooking on a camp fire, undertaking a 4WD creek crossing, biking, going down a French canal, climbing a mountain in Nepal or bathing in a creek.

In early 2017, we changed our name from Thelma & Louise Expeditions to Thelma & Louise Australia to complement Thelma & Louise Nepal and Thelma & Louise France. We still raise funds through undertaking expeditions and also use a range of other methods to raise funds for women and children.

In 2016 three groups of women - 20 all together - responded to the invitation to “Experience Brittany as a Local!”

• Our 10-day adventure started in Brittany, France with a 7-day boat ride on a French canal.
• Each team/boat had 4, 6 or 8 women and two bicycles.
• Our challenge was to go shopping in a nearby French village for our evening dinner.
• Following our cruise, we gave back to nature by working in a small village to clean up the river.
• We camped and lived amongst the villagers.
• On the last night we organised a French village fete.

We raised $20,000 which went towards building the Community Centre in Baseri, Nepal.

We welcome new sponsors and recognize your support through the website, social media and local media items which report on our activities.