Home: Banepa, Kavrepalanchok, Bagmati

Education: B.B.I.S, Little Angels' College of Management, Kathmandu University, Nepal

One day, as I was returning home on a micro bus from my college, I saw a little boy who was working as a conductor in that vehicle. The boy was barely 10 years’ old. I started talking with my friends about that boy who should actually be going to school instead of working. An aunty inside the vehicle, who overheard us, said that there was no solution to this problem because the kids themselves chose this path. They don’t want to study and that’s why they are in this profession, she said. I was shocked by her answer. She also informed that she was a social worker who worked for the betterment of such children and she had tried a lot to bring such children under proper care but they ran off in some days as they wanted to earn money and live freely. Hearing this made me sad and I thought a lot on how could I change this situation. I felt helpless.

I knew education is an important part of building the society and the nation. But I never liked the education system of our country as it was more focused on forced learning than self-learning. I wanted to be a part of something that can change the society and better the lives of children. One day in a class our course instructor brought an article about TFN and how it has enrolled the youth and contributed in changing the numbers and lives of many students. I searched abut TFN online and thought that I would apply once I finish my bachelors. I want to be a force that changes the fate of those children to help them become what they want. I don’t want to see those struggling faces of child laborers in hotels, restaurants, and vehicles. I am choosing this path because I have the hope that the day when all children will get quality education will come as I live on.

Both my parents had experiences of being teachers. That’s why they provided us with good education. And I want to make sure that many more children get access to quality education in Nepal. Through the fellowship, I aspire to develop my leadership qualities. After 2 years, I want to continue Master’s in Entrepreneurship. I want to come back to Nepal after that and become a successful entrepreneur in handicraft or jewelry industry. I’ve seen how my family business of silver and gold jewelries has flourished and I want to use the knowledge to establish my enterprise in a community that’s lagging behind in terms of economic development. Every community has different local resources and there are people with unique creativity. As an entrepreneur, I will help people use their skills and local resources to produce handicrafts which will get exposure in international market, too.