For Education Foundation

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10,000 for a whole month of essential supplies for 4 families.

Go ahead and make someone's start of the year a very happy new year 🎉🎊🎉🎊

FUND APPEAL FOR LAXMI AND HER MOTHER

Laxmi and her mother live in a small room near Gaushala area and FEF has been supporting them for the last few years by providing them with the rental costs. Laxmi is currently studying in Grade 10 and we are certain that life ahead is going to be better for them.

We appeal to our friends and supporters to please donate whatever amount you can to help Laxmi stay in school and for her to have a roof over her head. The monthly rental cost is NPR. 5,000.

Photo:

We invite all our well wishers and supporters for the charity dinner being held at Attic on 21st May, 2022.

Includes live musical performances with good meal.

Dm for payment options 😊

Part 1/2. Laxmi's Story

The last time when I worked I was making ‘Potey’ for a shopkeeper . I gradually got  better at it and could manage making around three a day. I’d make as many as possible and deliver them at the end of the week. I’d make Rs 12 per piece which isn’t a lot but is definitely something and allows me to stay home and study. I miss being able to go to school though, talking to my friends and walking around. We used to learn a lot from each other but now it is just my mom, me and the phone. 

Once I had a job at a clothing store where the day would end late. I used to enjoy my work but I’d really get stressed out as the sun would start to set. Before it got dark most eateries would have a lot of men hanging out and ‘drinking’. Although nothing terrible has happened, there are always these ‘what ifs’. It was scary and I’d ask one of my relatives to walk me home on some days. I don’t believe that gender determines one’s worth or ability but certain situations do become more challenging. Although safety, movement and facilities in general seem to be compromised if you are a woman. I would really like for myself to be able to provide for my mother as a child should, like a ‘Son’ would.

Mom has her problems and so does our life together but we feel we have a fairly good life. Life is not perfect but it is better than before, I am an educated and capable person. I do not have an impulsive nature nor do I have any bad habits like many of my cousins nor have I chosen marriage. I think the opportunity to go to school really made me understand what education really meant, it has enabled me to design a life that is full of possibilities. I like studying, in fact I am pretty good at it but it is really hard to learn, especially math. There are so many of us and such little time for questions with online classes which makes it harder. I try to be as attentive as possible but even then, it is not that easy. I will soon be done with the 10th grade but I still have three  years until I can start working full time and support my family.

Sarala's Story

I do some house work in the morning, like doing the dishes and cleaning our place. After that I walk to my cousin’s place in Boudha. She is 15 years old and I’m 14. Both of our mothers’ work throughout the day so we give each other company. We spend the whole day sitting in the sun and chatting about random things. After spending the day there, I walk back home before it gets dark. 

I don’t have many memories from my childhood but I remember us spending the whole day at  a day care center for street children.. Our parents would be away working, I started to do well with studies and got good marks  too. My experience in my last school wasn't very good especially because of this one teacher. I feel like I was being targeted for my shortcomings and weaknesses more than necessary. It was especially bad because she would broadcast them in front of the class. She would call me ‘Dirty’ and make comments about how I didn’t look presentable.

I find it really difficult to express myself and interact with people ever since. It has affected my schooling and learning experience in general. She might not be a bad person but she is a little too harsh and will never change so I am going to change my school. I have found another school just nearby. . I don’t know the name but it is a public  school and opens for admission on ‘Saraswati Puja’.

I don’t know what the future holds for me but I would love a small house where I am able to experience peace and freedom. It would be nice to maybe become a teacher. I wish I had a more structured plan but I feel nothing in life is really guaranteed, our aspirations and dreams change with time and grow with us. Just like life, aren’t we constantly evolving as human beings?

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