Home: New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Bagmati

Education: B.S.W., Golden Gate International College, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

“No sons, only daughters?” was the question my relatives always asked my mother whenever they saw her with me and my sister. Those words bothered me and I always wondered why everyone gave so much priority to sons. I used to look at my mother’s face to find out if she was upset too but she would respond calmly “Yes, only two daughters.” However, I felt that the question did affect her. Then one day while enjoying the view of beautiful sunset from the roof of my uncle’s house, I witnessed something weird on a neighbor’s terrace. A girl, apparently of my age, was beaten by her grandmother because she broke a glass while doing the dishes. “If you don’t learn to do your chores properly now, how will you take care of your family after marriage?” Unlike her brother, she wasn’t sent to school as her family believed that their son would look after them in future while she would be married off. I felt confused and scared. Being a girl, would I also have to face the same problem? If my parents gave birth to a baby boy, would they also stop loving me and my sister, treat us badly and not send us to school?

I went to my grandmother and asked her if she loved me and my sister. With a smile she asked me what made me question that. I told her every single thing that was bothering me.. Despite not being educated and belonging to a typical Newari community she believed in equality between sons and daughters. She told me that my parents were happy with two daughters. She inspired me to not only be successful but also to take such a path that would allow my parents to hold their head high and tell the world that having a daughter is a blessing, not sin.

I chose Teach for Nepal to fulfill my grandmother’s dream; dream of me doing something really significant in my life. I always wanted to teach unprivileged children and make them and their parents understand the importance of girl child’s education and I’m finally getting to live up to that wish. Besides academic achievements in my student life, I have done well despite being a girl not just in academics but in extracurricular activities as well. I paly Table Tennis, was the Chairperson of Eco Club and the Community Service Director of Rotaract Club of Balaju, among others. I believe that girls can do as much as boys, provided that they get proper guidance. Through the Fellowship I will be reaching many such girls as my students and helping them to do their best.