Success Story 1: I Can Pursue Higher Education without Any Obstacles

“Before, I did not felt that I will continue my education as I was depressed due to my family’s worsening economic condition. Good Shepherd Sisters helped me enough and inspired me to set up my goal in life. I am very thankful to Good Sheperd Sisters for providing economic and psychosocial support through OVN that has brought a positive outlook in life and enabled me to enjoy my right to education.”

Rekha Dahal

I am Rekha Dahal, 17 year old, living with my 2 younger brothers and parents. My father becomes the breadwinner in my family. Because of my mother’s poor health, I have to look after all the household chores and continue my study at the same time. Due to poverty, I sometimes used to skip meals and was about to be dropped out of school when I was in grade VIII. My family was unable to provide me monthly fees, stationery, school dress, bags and shoes that hindered me from going to school regularly. The income of my father was not sufficient for the family. I was depressed and unable to concentrate on study. I used to roam on the road playing with children. I hardly stayed at home. I did not have a focus in life. COVID 19 pandemic worsened my family condition.

Once I met the Good Shepherd Sisters during their regular family visit in our village where I got the chance to share about my suffering. The next day, I approached Opportunity Village Nepal (OVN) organization run by Good shepherd sisters, asking support to continue my education since I was unable to pay school fees. After studying my situation and the family condition, Opportunity Village Nepal supported us with a livelihood program during COVID-19. Through that support, we bought a cow and have started to earn by selling the milk. Further, individual counselling and value education classes provided by Good Shepherd Sisters motivated me to continue my education and set up a goal of my life. They showed me the right path in my life through their inspiring speeches. Considering our misery, I and my family have got medical support from OVN.

With the money earned from the selling of milk, I am able to continue my education by paying my school fees, buying stationeries and my family has been getting nutritious food as well. Before I used to fall sick often, but now my health condition has improved. At present, I am continuing my study in grade X. My aim is to become a Computer engineer. The generous support of the Good Shepherd Sister is an inspiration for me to fulfill the aim of my life and become a role model for others. I am always grateful to Opportunity Village Nepal for its constant support to many children to fulfill their all rights: rights to education, rights to survival, rights to participants and rights to development. Good shepherd sisters had great concern towards my health, education and well-being. They visited my family and studied the situation and continued to encourage me. Today I am healthy and pursuing education because of their compassion. I proudly say that my future is secured. I have confidence that I will do well and achieve my dreams.

Success Story 2: Now I can support my family without any Obstacles

“Before, I did not feel that I would continue my education as I was depressed due to my family’s worse economic condition. Good Shepherd Sisters helped me enough and inspired me to set up my goal of life.  I am very thankful to Good Shepherd Sisters for providing economic and support through OVN that has brought positive outlook in life and enabled me to enjoy my right to education.’’ – Srijana Bhujel.

I am Srijana Bhujel, 19-years-old.  I have an elder sister and grandparents.  My parents left us when we were small and married having their own families. I am the breadwinner in the family. Since my grandparents are sickly we have to do all the household work and study as well. Due to poverty, we sometimes used to skip meals and was about to be dropped out of school when I was in grade VIII. My grandparents were unable to provide us monthly fees, stationery, school dress, bags and shoes that hindered me from going to school regularly. So, my sister and I came to Kathmandu in search of job. We used to do household jobs. I was depressed and unable to concentrate on study and as well as daily job. I dropped my studies and my sister continued her studies in Kathmandu. COVID 19 pandemic worsened my family condition. During the COVID-19, I joined at the restaurants as waitress. I didn’t feel comfortable to work at restaurants because of owner and customer behavior. I got a chance to know about OVN through the staff member when they visited my working place. They inform me about the organization and its working strategy. I joined OVN and engaged in the life skill and leadership training. Also I got a business support from the OVN at my own village. I am very thankful towards OVN to make my life easy and respectfully.

During the COVID-19 phase, I met staff members of OVN during their field visit period. I got a chance to share my feelings and emotions with them which makes it easy and comfortable for me to live my life. I used to engage in different awareness programs and training organized by OVN. I got large scale business support from OVN like a grocery shop in my own village. From this business I continue my education and help my family also. I am happy for this support and planned to keep some profit money at the cooperative also.

With the money earned from the grocery shop, I am able to continue my education by paying my school fees, buying stationeries and my family has been getting nutritious food as well. At present, I am continuing my study in grade 11 in Education. My aim is to become a good business woman or else a Teacher. The generous support of the OVN is an inspiration for me to fulfill the aim of my life and become a role model for others. My family and I are always grateful to Opportunity Village Nepal for its constant support to many children to fulfill their all rights: rights to education, rights to survival, rights to participants and rights to development. I proudly say that my future is secured. I have confidence that I will do well and achieve my dreams.

Success Story 3: Hopes for the Beautiful Future

“Earlier, it was difficult to accept the incident. It was as if a black cloud came around my eyes. I immediately remembered my sister, and was shocked, how to handle her? Where to go now, instead, it would be better if we had to die together with our parents and brother. I wanted to cry out loud but no voice came to me. I felt everything was lost but the Good Shepherd Sisters came to me as a god and brought me and my sister into a Child Protection Home run by Opportunity Village. It brought back everything like care, love and affection, education, shelter, safety, security and homely environment in my life. My sentimental attachment with Good Shepherd Sisters has been giving me the feeling of as I staying with my parents”- Susmita Bi.Ka

Susmita Bi.Ka.is a 17-year-old child. She is from Baglung district which is located by western part of Nepal. Susmita had 6 members in her family, father, mother, 3 sisters, and a younger brother. She is the 2nd child of her parents. Her elder sister had already got married.  Her father had been working abroad for about eight years and had come to Nepal in January, 2020 to run a grocery shop in the bazar area. Sometimes children used to stay at a village house (old house). Her mother used to do housework and help in the shop. Her brother was 10 years old and was studying in class 3.

A landslide caused by heavy rains in Dhorpatan Village Municipality of Baglung district had been severely affected on September 2, 2020 .  The flooded river swept away around 40 houses downstream in Wards 7, 8 and 9 of Dhorpatan Municipality where 37 people were killed, 41 people were missed and 3 people were injured. Susmita’s family also fell into such a miserable incident where her father, mother, and brother died. The bodies of her father and brother were found and her mother’s body is still not found. Fortunately, she and her younger sister were able to survive as they both had gone to their old house in the village whereas the father, mother and brother were staying in the shop. At around 12 o’clock in the night, her maternal aunty called her and informed that the landslide had taken place. After that, the child tried to contact her father and mother but the phone could not be reached and she reached the spot with her relatives at around 7 in the morning.

She was shocked seeing the situation in the village where many houses including her shop were swept by landslides. She cried and started to search for her parents with the support of villagers and police. In the evening, police found her father’s dead body.

When the local government body of Baglung district was looking for alternatives for the protection of the girls, they came to know about the work and services of the Good Shepherd Sisters. The Good Shepherd Sister also received information about the tragic incident from various media outlets. The Good Shepherd Sisters then went to the scene and studied the situation. The situation of the village was so painful, some of the young children were found dead, some of their parents were found dead, and some were found injured. Seeing such a painful situation, the Good Shepherd Sisters decided to provide clothes for livelihood then they found these girls were very much in need of residential protection and for the future.

The Good Shepherd Sister informed the child about the services provided by the organization and also the children who have been getting various benefits since the girl is not alone but she had a younger sister with her. So she is happy to come to the child protection home run by GSS. Then, Good Shepherd Sisters coordinated with the local government of Baglung to provide residential protection of both girl children in a child care home run in Hemja, Pokhara.

In order to come out from the grief of losing parents, home and everything, Susmita was given psychosocial counseling using various techniques like mindful meditation, light stream, container exercise, art therapy and so on. Further, following the daily routine of the child protection home and her active engagement in many in-house activities like yoga, meditation, art and craft, gardening, life skill training, games, sports, dance performance, etc. has helped her to forget her past and has made happy in the present.

When Susmita came to the child protection home due to the traumatic experience of losing her family, she used to cry a lot, had facial appearance fateful and anxious, had nightmares and was not eating well. It was not very easy for the few days to drain out the painful incident. But slowly looking at the other children she was able to come out of her traumatic condition.

After admitting the child in the OVN child protection home, many positive changes have taken place in her. Gradually, she started mingling with her friends, sharing new things and ideas with friends, trying to learn new things and happiness. Try to be open to share her likes and dislikes and ask for her needs. And free with everyone.

She is currently studying in class 10. She is hardworking and very tolerant. Her future plan is to become a teacher. Since there were classmates who are attending online classes in a child protection home of the same class, it is a good opportunity for her to join in study and do homework which also helped her to forget the tragedy.