Home: Thapathali, Kathmandu, Bagmati

Education: BA-BSW, Kathmandu Model College, Nepal

I was born 23 years ago in Thapathali, Kathmandu. I grew up here in Kathmandu although my parents are originally from Gulmi, in western Nepal. I completed my schooling and college in the capital.

I think being part of Teach for Nepal is a great achievement in itself. You are part of a national movement to end education inequity. The most important thing for me is that I have been doing everything based on my own choices. I am proud of this because it means I am a person who is living according to my own choices and decisions. I would say I have certain values that I hold dear, and I am proud to be a part of an organization that shares my values of hard work, honesty and persistence.

I knew of TFN from the organization’s early days. I was an Anuvuti Fellow, and heard of TFN’s work. I was interested in being a part of it in some way or another. I had been a research intern and worked as a program assistant. As I went through the selection process and met other candidates, I didn’t know if I’d be selected.

I applied to Teach for Nepal because the values of the organization match my own values. Secondly, I believe that TFN will test my limits, and make me work to my fullest potential. On top of that, I think that as a private school student I had an opportunity for good education and gained exposure to different opportunities in life. These opportunities and achievements are why I have been selected as a Teach for Nepal Fellow. Why shouldn’t public school students get these opportunities? Everyone should at least have access to quality education – so that they can live their lives through choices not compulsion. It’s certain that I will not have an easy time during the two years of Fellowship – and I am ready for that.

Working with children has always been my passion. Based on my prior experience in working with Anuvuti International as well as other groups, and in teaching life skills courses in four government schools in Kathmandu, children return double of what you give to them. Therefore, I am very excited to be in a setting that is totally different from where I come from. I have learned from each of my previous volunteer and internship experiences, and from my academic classes; I was able to graduate in the top three of my BA-BSW class. But I know my learning will be different in a new setting.

We know the context of education in the public schools we’re going to. Around 50% of students are failing. This is a fact. To some extent, I worry that I’m still caught within the bounds of a traditional way of teaching. So how can I expect to change the system to make teaching transformative? This will be a challenge for me. But at the same time I am hopeful that change is possible. And we will be that change.

When I told people I was interviewing with Teach for Nepal, reactions varied from person to person. Some said I was doing an amazing job; others were skeptical about whether the mission is feasible. It has always been my desire to be part of a program like Teach for Nepal. My family members were also happy because they wanted me to be here in Nepal. I wanted to do something of my own. My nation has given so much to me and now it’s my turn to return the favor.