‘I helped build green school and provide vocational training to people in Karnali’

TNW: What inspired you to come to Nepal and to work for the deprived children here?

– I became a friend with a Nepali young woman when I was a teenager. She was in India and I was working with the Neplese community in the Indian side. And she really wanted to return to her home, which is in Kalikot.So I reached the remote area of Nepal in that way. Then I got the opportunity to work for the deprived children in Kaliot and Karnali.

TNW: Did you come to Nepal as a tourist in the beginning ?

– Absolutely right, I came as a tourist with my Nepali friends. I was not alone at that time as I was with my Nepali friend here.

TNW: Which state do you belong to in the USA ?

– Its New Jersy.

TNW: What about your educational and family backgrounds ?

– I have a mom and a dad, and I am one of the three daughters. I grew up in New Jersey. I wen to to the public school there and I finished my high school. Then I came to India for traveling.

TNW ; How did you first start working with children here ?

– I started with my co-founder Top Bahadur Malla. We were putting children in the school. I started my works from Surkhet. That’s our base and we are still working there as the base.

TNW: How would you compare the situation in Surkhet then (two decades back) and now ?

– Its grown so much, its flourishing, it’s become a provincial capital now. The roads there are being paved. There are lots of families coming down from the hill areas and mountains. Now they are building their family homes there. Lot’s of migrant workers live there. Surkhet has grown a lot and its become a government hub for the province.

TNW: What types of children are you working with?

– I am working for orphan care, particularly working with children who have lost their parents. Fatherless, motherless children, who don’t have their guardians.

TNW: How many children are you associated with at this time ?

-There are seven hundred children in our care centre at this moment. They are receiving education here and we also do community support in the region.

TNW: Didn’t you feel uncomfortable in working with the children due to the language problem?

– Yea in the beginning it was a little difficult, but I have learnt to speak Nepali gradually.

TNW:What is the situation there at present?

– We have a beautiful school. Its a full service community school. We have the green school in Nepal.

TNW: From how many districts do the children come to your community school?

– Children come from seventeen districts of Karnali to receive education there.

TNW:What do you think are the basic problems of the people of Karnali zone?

– You see, most of the economy relies on the migrant workers. So, here you can see the disintegration of the local family. Lack of job opportunity and lack of medical infrastructure are the major problems. – Most people have to go abroad for work, which is a huge problem for children. We also have food deficit issue.

TNW: What made you to win the CNN Hero award in 2015?

– A lot of Nepali people were voting for me. The Nepali people turn out for vote was amazing. I am very much grateful for that.

Between 2015 and now (2023) what were your focus or priorities while working for the deprived children?

– We built beautiful this green school, we are creating jobs in the region, teaching vocational skills. We are making shelter for children going to the college and they have now become doctors and engineers in Karnali. We are going to change and improve the management of the government schools in Karnali.

TNW: Can you shed some light on your book?

– The book is the memoir of my life journey. What I learnt here, how I felt, how I overcame certain obstacles and its about the children as well.

TNW:What are your future plans?

-Just to raise awareness and elevate education among children in the Karnali region.

TNW: Are you planning to spend rest of your life in Nepal or will return to your home land?

– I am working with the local community and I am not needed for 24 x 7 full time. Our team is leading the works. But I love being here. And I will be here as long as I am welcome. My daughter is going to school. She is now five years old.

TNW: Are you married?

– Yes, I am married to a Canadian national and our wedding took place in Nepal. But we met in the USA.

Do you have anything more to say for the readers?

I hope young readers and people love to read my book, which is also coming out in Nepali soon. I hope after reading the book people would get some inspiration to serve their community and the country.