In recognition of Women’s History Month, Smithtown Matters is proud to recognize the accomplishments of women. It is fascinating to learn the wonderful and interesting ways women have made their mark on the world. Throughout March, SmithtownMatters will give a brief history of women who made a difference.
Day 23 – Amanda Daflos - Businesswoman, Advocate, Concerned Citizen of the World
Amanda Daflos graduated from Smithtown High School in 1996. Amanda attended Hamilton College in Clinton NY and received her master’s degree from the University of Colorado. Amanda currently works for Deloitte Consulting and resides in California.
Amanda’s affinity for Nepal started while an undergrad at Hamilton College. She traveled to Nepal and spent seven months living in the home of a family in the village of Kopan. While she was in Kopan she worked at learning to speak and write Nepali. Becoming fluent in the language she then traveled the country on her own, examining the role of women in the Nepali school system. Her time in Nepal opened her eyes to the rich cultures of Nepal.
After she returned to the United States she continued her education earning a master’s degree from the University of Colorado. In Colorado she founded Aleigh Productions, a public relations and event consulting firm specializing in work with non-profit organizations. It was Amanda’s goal to promote individuals and corporations by bringing their special events to life.
Nepal remained a part of Amanda’s life. She became the Director of Programs for the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC). The IMEC is a non-profit organization focusing on assisting people who live in developing mountain regions throughout the world. While serving as director she focused on building partnerships for sustainable travel with western tour operators. Amanda has also been involved in issues involving porter rights (the treatment of indigenous people who work for and travel with tours). She has lectured on the topic of porter rights at industry and academic conferences.
Amanda has not strayed from caring and concern for people. About Nepal, “It’s definitely one of the most impoverished places I’ve seen, but to most of the people that I’ve met, it’s just kind of the way life is,” she says. “I think it’s the norm, so maybe it’s easier to deal with, or maybe it’s just a different way of looking at life. But it’s always struck me the way they can find a lot of kindness, in spite of all the challenges they face.”(Amanda Daflos as quoted in the Hamilton Review Online).
Amanda, along with John Oliva, co-founded Nepal Trek and Trail Run to expose others to the wonders of Nepal. They take tourists, who sign up for a ten-day hike and run (running is optional) tour, through Katmandu and the Annapurna Mountains. Some of the funds raised by the trek are used to support the Himalayan Cataract Project.