SURKHET, NEPAL / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 10, 2026 / The BlinkNow Foundation is very pleased to announce that Bikrani Chaudhary, a valued community partner, has won the Women’s World Summit Foundation Prize for Creativity in Rural Life. A total of five laureates have been selected for 2026.

Chaudhary has been recognized for her innovative work in local weaving, basketry, and offering economic opportunity to others. After completing a handicraft training course at the BlinkNow-funded Kopila Valley Women’s Center, a program for vocational training and social support, she began weaving baskets in the style of her local Tharu community. She has continued to innovate more efficient weaving production techniques, to teach others, and now with her Patalganga Hastakala Samagri Udhyami Samuha Udhyag group, she is leading a team of nine women in weaving baskets to produce income and independence. 

The annual Creativity in Rural Life award honors creative and compassionate rural women leaders and rural women's groups from around the world, working and serving rural communities that demonstrate courage and exceptional commitment for the improvement of rural life.

With Bikrani’s win, BlinkNow has nominated winners for three years in a row. Other laureates this year include Beth Terry (Kenya), Nneoma Elechi Obasi (Nigeria), Jain Madhu (India), and Stella Sarukhanyan (Armenia). Most of the Laureates are involved, directly or indirectly, in working towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

Baskets and mats woven by the Patalganga group are available in the U.S. at www.blinknow.org/shop.

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