Binita Lama, a 10-year-old girl of Chhatre-5, Dapchha, a remote VDC in Kavrepalanchowk district, could never imagine going to an English medium school in the capital with the condition of her family going from bad to worse.

Her father died in a road accident when she was a toddler. Soon after her mother eloped, leaving Binita and her older sister with their grandparents.

The family lost all hopes when the grandfather, the only earning member, also passed away.

Tears roll down Binita´s cheeks when she recounted the old days. "My mother never came back, nor did she try to contact us," she said.

She came to the capital just two years ago. Dhile guru, an acquaintance from her village, brought her to the capital. She is worried about her grandmother and older sister, who have been living in grim financial condition in the village. "My grandmother cannot work and she begs to survive," she said. Binita could not study in her village because of poverty.

Lama, a student of grade two, is one among 13 students who are enrolled in Swarna Shiksha English Secondary School at Gokarna, Kathmandu. Eva Holmberg Tedert, a 55-year-old Swedish national, is supporting the girls to get quality education in the capital. Eva said that all of the girls are either orphans or daughters of single mothers, who cannot provide good education to their children.

Pema Dolma Tamang, seven-year-old of Thulopakhar, Sindhupalchowk has a similar story. She cannot recount her past that keeps haunting her. "My father hanged himself in the kitchen, when I was too small," she said, adding, "Mother also abandoned me."

Her uncle took care of her since then, but due to poverty he could not provide her a good education. Eva said that Pema used to draw a man hanging from a ceiling in black color. "The painting showed how much she was psychologically affected by the event," Eva added.

Likewise, Binu Tamang, 10, of Pokhara said that her father married the second time and abandoned her and her mother. "My mother did not have money to feed us," she said.

Eva has provided all the facilities to the girls, which average Nepalese people cannot provide to their children.

She has rented a separate hostel for the girls and hired a tutor to assist them in doing their homework. She has admitted all of them to an English medium school. The environment of the hostel is friendly and no one ever scolds the children. The caretaker treats them with love and affection. Laptops and internet facilities have been made available to the children through which they can chat with Eva when she is abroad.

"Some of the children have preformed well in their studies," said Eva.

She said that she would provide financial support to Binita´s grandmother and elder sister. Eva has also been paying for the education of five other preschoolers. The children said that Eva had taken them to Pokhara and Chitwan on a visit.

Eva said that she will continue to support the girls until they become able and empowered. "I will continue support them until they get a good job in this country," she said. She said that she hoped that the girls would prefer to serve this country rather than go abroad when they grow up.

source: republica,26 March 2013
photo courtesy: republica