Surviving trafficking
Sita is from a poor family in the rural district of Sindhulpalchowk in Nepal. One of five, her childhood was one of long days of hard manual labour. In search of better opportunities, Sita moved to Kathmandu to work in a carpet factory. After some months, the carpet factory owner promised better work, taking her and her friend to a town in India near the Nepali border, leaving them with a woman and promising to return with Sita’s parents.
‘When we reached the woman's house we found that she was not a good woman but a brothel owner. She told us everything about our work and threatened us that if we don't work there she will shift us to a different brothel. We didn't have any way to get out from there and were compelled to work there even though it was a helllike life. ’
Sita spent three years in the brothel, eventually escaping with the help of a customer. The next years of her life were marked by isolation, discrimination and abuse, falling pregnant to a policeman, who later deserted her.
‘I refused to go back because the village people would never accept me when they knew everything about me. ’
Sita struggled to re-establish her life in Nepal and find employment to support her child.
Now, with the help of an NGO, Sita has started her own business, which she hopes will generate the income to send her son to school.
Now, with the help of an NGO, Sita has started her own business, which she hopes will generate the income to send her son to school.
A return to school
Kalpana lives with her sister at our partner, Samunnat’s house, in eastern Nepal. As a result of extraordinarily unjust and stressful circumstances, Kalpana and her sister were required to move from their home, their family and Kalpana’s school to eastern Nepal. Kalpana, who had always loved school and was an enthusiastic and capable student, missed 12 months of education.
Kalpana and her sister found a home and stability in their lives with our partner, Samunnat. Kalpana was scared of returning to school as an older student having missed out on classes and exams, but with encouragement from Samunnat and with our funding support she returned to her education. At first she was embarrassed that she was older and taller than her classmates but she worked hard in class, made friends and joined in school activities.
Kalpana's dream is to complete her schooling to Class 12 and to make a difference to women whose lives have been impacted like hers. She is still deciding what she wants to study after school but with her determination and effort, we know that Kalpana will achieve her wish to make the world a better place for women.
Kalpana and her sister found a home and stability in their lives with our partner, Samunnat. Kalpana was scared of returning to school as an older student having missed out on classes and exams, but with encouragement from Samunnat and with our funding support she returned to her education. At first she was embarrassed that she was older and taller than her classmates but she worked hard in class, made friends and joined in school activities.
Kalpana's dream is to complete her schooling to Class 12 and to make a difference to women whose lives have been impacted like hers. She is still deciding what she wants to study after school but with her determination and effort, we know that Kalpana will achieve her wish to make the world a better place for women.
Neha’s journey in psychosocial counselling
In Eastern Nepal, where our partner Samunnat is based, there were no counsellors, particularly those specialising in women’s wellbeing or sexual health. Samunnat recognising this need, in collaboration with the local police and the Nepali Bar Association, have created a counselling position to be filled by one of the Samunnat women.
Neha, selected for the role, undertook a psychosocial counselling course in Kathmandu, 400 hours of skills based learning with placements in nursing homes and women’s centre.
The role not only provides a valuable employment opportunity for Neha, but provides much needed support for the Samunnat women and the wider community.
Neha, selected for the role, undertook a psychosocial counselling course in Kathmandu, 400 hours of skills based learning with placements in nursing homes and women’s centre.
The role not only provides a valuable employment opportunity for Neha, but provides much needed support for the Samunnat women and the wider community.
Rama’s experience with Asha Nepal
Rama grew up in Dhunche, the capital of the mountainous Rasuwa district, set in the Himalayas north of Kathmandu. Rama is a shy, gentle person whowas a quiet child.
Rama’s marriage was described as a nightmare. She suffered abuse from her husband and in-laws, who she lived with, as is common when a woman marries in Nepal. When Rama was seven months pregnant her husband went abroad for work. After two months he stopped contacting her. Her in-laws did not allow her to speak with him and subjected her to physical, verbal and mental abuse.
They seized her passport and other legal documents. Rama had no support network and very low self esteem. Rama reached a tipping point and decided to leave her husband’s family home. She came to Kathmandu along with her 7 year old daughter and stayed with her aunt. Rama was scared about her future. She did not have enough money to send her daughter to school. Her aunt knew of Asha Nepal and requested they help support Rama’s daughter to continue her education. With Asha’s support, Rama’s daughter is flourishing at school.
Asha also supports Rama with monthly parenting skills workshops, life skills training, food and rent support and counselling, which has helped her rebuild her wellbeing and confidence. Currently Rama is working in office administration and her daughter is in Grade 5.
They are living together happily.
They are excited for their future.
Rama’s marriage was described as a nightmare. She suffered abuse from her husband and in-laws, who she lived with, as is common when a woman marries in Nepal. When Rama was seven months pregnant her husband went abroad for work. After two months he stopped contacting her. Her in-laws did not allow her to speak with him and subjected her to physical, verbal and mental abuse.
They seized her passport and other legal documents. Rama had no support network and very low self esteem. Rama reached a tipping point and decided to leave her husband’s family home. She came to Kathmandu along with her 7 year old daughter and stayed with her aunt. Rama was scared about her future. She did not have enough money to send her daughter to school. Her aunt knew of Asha Nepal and requested they help support Rama’s daughter to continue her education. With Asha’s support, Rama’s daughter is flourishing at school.
Asha also supports Rama with monthly parenting skills workshops, life skills training, food and rent support and counselling, which has helped her rebuild her wellbeing and confidence. Currently Rama is working in office administration and her daughter is in Grade 5.
They are living together happily.
They are excited for their future.
“If I had not met Asha Nepal and received the support for my daughter, I would have remarried to another man in the hope he will look after me and my daughter. However, seeing and hearing stories of other women now, I feel probably I would have ended up with more problems than support. My daughter would have found it difficult to accept them as family, and for them to accept my daughter as their family would be impossible. I am truly grateful for Asha Nepal for the continuous support. It just gave me hope to stay strong and keep doing one thing at a time which kept me motivated and confident. Now my daughter and I have developed a close relationship with each other. We are a family, I do not need anyone to complete us .
Yasmi came to Asha Nepal in 2015. She grew up in the Parbat district, not far from Pokhara. When she was 18 months old her mother passed away. Yasmi was looked after by her older sister, who was only 8 years old at the time.
When Yasmi reached school age, a village uncle brought her to an orphanage in Kathmandu. In Nepal, it is common for parents struggling to support their families, to send their child to an orphanage, often on false promises of care
and education. Exploitative conditions have been well documented at Nepali orphanages, including abuse and neglect of children to attract foreign donations. The government estimates at least one-third of registered orphanages do not meet government standards*. Yasmi was rescued from the orphanage by a community organisation and referred to Asha Nepal.
Yasmi went on to live in Asha’s Family Based Care for two years and was supported to complete high school. When she finished Year 12, she was reintegrated into the community in an independent living unit with another girl from Asha. Yasmi is bright and hard working, and she soon got a job as an accounts assistant in a law firm. While this gave her the financial independence to support herself, she was unable to afford further study. Asha Nepal supported her tuition fees for a 4-year Bachelor in Business Studies. In 2019, Yasmi joined the Asha Nepal team as an Admin and Finance Assistant. The Asha team are so proud to see her excel academically and professionally in her area of interest.
She has grown up to be a confident, happy and independent woman.
Yasmi recently graduated from her undergraduate degree and has her sights set on an MBA.
*U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. Department of State, 2022.
Yasmi kindly shared her story with Asha Nepal, Project Didi’s local partner organisation in Nepal. Her name has been changed to respect her privacy.
When Yasmi reached school age, a village uncle brought her to an orphanage in Kathmandu. In Nepal, it is common for parents struggling to support their families, to send their child to an orphanage, often on false promises of care
and education. Exploitative conditions have been well documented at Nepali orphanages, including abuse and neglect of children to attract foreign donations. The government estimates at least one-third of registered orphanages do not meet government standards*. Yasmi was rescued from the orphanage by a community organisation and referred to Asha Nepal.
Yasmi went on to live in Asha’s Family Based Care for two years and was supported to complete high school. When she finished Year 12, she was reintegrated into the community in an independent living unit with another girl from Asha. Yasmi is bright and hard working, and she soon got a job as an accounts assistant in a law firm. While this gave her the financial independence to support herself, she was unable to afford further study. Asha Nepal supported her tuition fees for a 4-year Bachelor in Business Studies. In 2019, Yasmi joined the Asha Nepal team as an Admin and Finance Assistant. The Asha team are so proud to see her excel academically and professionally in her area of interest.
She has grown up to be a confident, happy and independent woman.
Yasmi recently graduated from her undergraduate degree and has her sights set on an MBA.
*U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. Department of State, 2022.
Yasmi kindly shared her story with Asha Nepal, Project Didi’s local partner organisation in Nepal. Her name has been changed to respect her privacy.
Project Didi Australia is committed to restoring hope, dignity and independence to women and girls in Nepal, who have experienced trafficking and gender-based violence, through trauma-informed care, family strengthening and reintegration, education and employment pathways.
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