Pramila: A hope for a Better Change
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Her tale is a compelling story of rediscovering her own humanity.
In life’s journey, Pramila emerges as a soul saturated in the sheer bliss of existence. Her tale brims with delight and adoration for every path she crosses. She is what we call a radiant spirit that embodies the will to continue no matter the consequences. She stands as the epitome of a life unfurled with boundless curiosity. She possesses a magnetic charm, drawing people toward her with an effortless allure. As a teacher and a student she is a blend of kindness and resilience, a living mosaic of strength and gentleness, making her presence both admirable and memorable.
Beginnings and Surviving
In a small town, Surkhet, Pramila’s family faced the harsh reality of life’s struggles when she was young. Many men of the family would often go abroad to work. Her father, a hardworking man with calloused hands and dreams as vast as the ocean, made the difficult decision to leave his family behind and travel to India in search of work. The weight of responsibility bore heavily on his shoulders as he left, promising to return with enough income to ensure his family could eat without worry.
Pramila’s mother did her best to hold the family together in her father’s absence.
Pramila was nine years old at the time, and even though she wanted to help lift some of the burden, she could not. So, even if it was not financially, she helped her mom by looking after her younger brother. She always dreamt of the day where she did not have to worry about the mountain of needs, weighing her whole family down.
After some time, her father returned home with some hope. Pramila’s Uncle and Auntie had a vacant house, and they rented it out. Just as the family started to see the better side of the light, Pramila was accepted into Kopila Valley School.
A Free School??
“I joined Kopila Valley from 5th grade. If I’m being honest, I was quite skeptical about the choices my parents made for me. A school where you study for free? That seems crazy!
Despite my doubts, I really had no choice. My family’s financial struggle compelled me to join Kopila Valley. But had it not been for this school, I would not be where I am right now.
If I have to write down what changed for me during my time here in Kopila, I have to say discrimination does not rule my life.
“One of Kopila’s most profound strengths lies in its steadfast commitment to non-discrimination based on gender or caste. It was a big deal for a girl who came from a marginalized community. There were no boundaries tethered to gender stereotypes. Girls and boys were equal participants in the pursuit of knowledge, their ambitions unbridled by societal expectations. I was, regardless of my gender or caste, encouraged to explore, question, and excel. The school’s ethos went beyond the walls of academia; caste, too, was a relic of the past at Kopila Valley School.”
Pramila continued to persevere, smashing the stereotypes that lingered even in the shadows. At Kopila, she found a place to be different.
She graduated in the year 2018 and took a year off from school.
People who had any sort of degree related to health were a big deal, according to Pramila’s community. Along with that, she wanted to be a healer, a nurturer. So she opted to study HA (Health Assistant), a 3-year course that focuses on general medicine.
As sometimes fate has tricks, her low score in science detained Pramila from her career choice. Nevertheless, instead of letting this setback bore a hole in her resilience, she instantly chose BBS (Bachelor Of Business Studies), which focuses on business management and administration.
After enrolling in a nearby college in Surkhet, Pramila wanted a head start into adulthood. She applied for an internship at Kopila Valley School, where she was wholeheartedly accepted.
Teaching at Kopila Valley
Roots draw you like no other gravitational force. Pramila started as a naive intern to now a wise, independent, full time HP (Health Physical) teacher. “As one of the alumni of Kopila, I grew with the school and its community. It’s rewarding to compare the past and the present and see how far not only the school, but I, have come.” She is in her sixth semester of college and 5th year as a teacher at Kopila Valley School. She is balancing life quite well, for a girl who started with only dreams.
Pramila is a marvelous dancer; in fact, one of her favorite memories that is close to her heart is encouragement to dance from teachers and mentors she looked up to as a student and as a young girl. She even says that dance frees her mind and releases stress. Many times, she performs at the school, and all the students look up to her and admire her for her skills and dedication.
“If working as a teacher at Kopila has taught me one thing, it would be that life’s most profound lessons are often engraved in the scars of our experiences, reminding us that strength is forged in adversity, wisdom blooms in reflection, and resilience is the masterpiece born from challenges.” A very wise statement from a very wise young lady.
“Kopila has my head and heart, fully, wholly, and devotedly.”
We are thrilled to have one of our very own Kopila Valley School graduates write this guest blogger series and share alumni stories! Anjali Karki graduated in 2019 and is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism along with a journalism career. We can’t wait to see what each of these world-changers does next. Follow us on social media with the series hashtag (#NarrateYourKopilaStory) for more about these young adults and their adventures.