Home: Sunwal, Nawalparasi, Lumbini

Education: B.Sc. (Physics), Butwal Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

While I was teaching in a school, one of my students in Grade 2 lost her father. Being the eldest child, she was given the responsibility of her father’s funeral. Despite going through such a hard time, she patiently managed to handle her household responsibilities and her studies simultaneously.

This was a very inspiring moment for me. Even I was going through a difficult time at home. My father had met with an accident and the financial burden of my family was upon my shoulders, too. I also had the responsibility of taking care of my siblings. Before this, our parents had always pampered us. Despite coming from a remote village of Terai region and starting off with just a small room, one bed and a few utensils, they had made sure we had the most comfortable life. They worked extra time just to fulfil our wishes and we never had to worry about anything before. But with the new situation and challenges at hand, I was scared and not strong enough for the responsibilities yet. I was an adult and I felt that I wasn’t being able to handle the situation while the little girl demonstrated maturity. She made me realize that even I can take charge and manage situations myself. Moreover, I realized that girls can do as much as boys can; girls can lead too.

Even though my parents treated me like no less than a son, I grew up in a society where people always discriminate between girls and boys. I’ve seen daughters being sent to public school while their brothers went to private schools. Girls are always thought to be weaker. I want to change that. And the best way to change it, especially in rural areas, was joining TFN. I have been working as a teacher for five years and I enjoy teaching. Upon learning about TFN, while surfing the internet, I felt that by joining the movement I could help contribute in eradication of gender discrimination in our society. Choosing Teach for Nepal was one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life. Through the Fellowship journey, not only can I work towards changing people’s perception towards girls’ education but this will make me a stronger person.