"I am soft-spoken but I have a strong will. Maybe that is why I walked all the way to Khalanga to get extra tuition classes. I rented a room with a few other girls whom I had convinced to join me. I had told them that we need to continue with school and they in turn were able to convince their family. In Khalanga, we paid rent and we paid for these tuition classes. We all knew that without these extra classes we would never pass our examinations. The questions that would come in the district level examinations would be difficult and everyone knew that the lessons we were taught would not be enough to answer them. I could have stayed back and started raising animals and breaking corn but my mind was not there. But Khalanga was not free of struggle. The tuition teacher taught in Nepali which I could barely understand. In all my village school life we were taught in Kham language. I would cry. I know I could not return home. I could not disappoint myself nor my family so I worked hard. It was this will that helped me. But because of this language barrier, many girls and boys from the community left school. I feel like if students could choose the language that they wanted to be taught in, that would open opportunities for many young people.
Today, I am an auxiliary nurse and a midwife. I persisted. And I am back in my village contributing to the health and well-being of families here. From birthing to simple dressing of cuts and would I am helping my community. Even though I am proud of the work I do for the community, I still speak softly and I still have a strong will. I think my little daughter who is just 3 also knows that."
"She is already very smart. Maybe a bit more than I am and that is what I want. A smart daughter. But the future seems difficult with all the competition. In the future, I want her to be happy. And when she is sad I wish to be beside her giving her words of hope. Children should have days to look forward to. Parents who can tell them about positive stories and show them the good in living. And when things fail they also need someone to give them hope.
(Kiran Pun Magar, Lukum, Rukum East)
#TheFutureIWant
SON X UN