A Force to be Reckoned With
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Nisha was the first child to come to live in the Kopila Valley Children's Home in 2007. In honor of International Day of the Girl, Nisha gave us her perspective on her own life and the general situation of girls in Nepal.
This was me in 2007, about 11 years ago. I was in the back of my house; this is the first picture Maggie took.
Living in the children's home was different. It was my first time living in the town with a house with running water, electricity, and people who spoke a different language. I used to always see Maggie with a translator, because I didn't speak English. That's when I realized I really wanted to learn English and be able to translate for other people.
I remember we used to go for a walk, like 10-12 of us kids walking around town with Maggie to buy vegetables and fruits. We would also go to the local park, because in Nepal we only had water or electricity for some hours in the day. On the weekend we'd go to the park where we'd shower and do our laundry.
After coming to Kopila Valley, I saw so many opportunities around me. I didn't have that before. When I came, I got to go to school, I got to learn English. I got to see that there were so many things that I could do, that many kids in Nepal didn't have the opportunity to do. I was really interested in health. I always knew that I wanted to do something related to medicine. Whenever a doctor came from the US, I would translate for him, because after one or two years I had learned English. So I would translate for him, and in the summertime I would volunteer in our school clinic. I always wanted to be more engaged in health fields, and I think that's what I’m going to focus on in college, too.
My family, my teachers, Maggie – those people really inspire me. I feel like I had the opportunity to do something, so I should grab the opportunity and also give back to the people to the people in my community, so that they can help other people.
I was in 9th grade when I first went to the US. I was doing a student exchange program. I never thought I'd even go to the US, or be able to study there, or study in the Netherlands. Now I'm doing a gap year in Senegal, and going to college next year. I would have never thought all of this would be possible. Sometimes I feel like I'm still living in a dream. Some of these things feel so impossible for someone from a remote village of Nepal. So I'm very, very thankful for everything I have.
The girls in our house, in our school, are super talented. That I know for sure. They're very kind, they're very supportive, they're very loving. Our girls are some of the strongest girls I know. Not only girls, but women in our community. Because we live in the western side of Nepal, which is more rural, there are a lot of things that women and girls face every day. A lot of girls don't get to go to school, and then most of them are forced to marry when they're young and have babies. And then women and girls are not treated equally even in school, or in their houses. In Nepal there should be more opportunities for jobs and good salary for girls and women, because they're as strong as men! I think I’m no less than any man!
My advice for my younger sisters would be to spread love, share love and kindness, and be yourself. I think you should also work hard, because there will be opportunities – a lot of opportunities! – but you need to be able to grab them and make them possible. I think that you should be part of something that you care about, that you want to be a part of, like a change. Do what makes you happy. Help others. Be kind to others. Be grateful. Support each other.
My dream is to see more and more girls educated in Nepal. The world will be a better place.
Don't discount girls, we are a force to be reckoned with!
At BlinkNow, we're fighting to empower Nepal's next generation of women. Let's make the future brighter for more girls like Nisha. Will you join us?