Archana (14) comes from a Dalit family. In Nepal, the Dalit family is among the poorest members of society and is often still left marginalized. Her father works as a wage laborer while her mother works in other people’s fields to make ends meet. Since they are very poor, her father needs to take out loans from unreputable lenders when emergencies arise. To pay these off, they had to work more and more… leaving them in a vicious cycle of extreme poverty. Since they have more than they could deal with, the pressure made her father succumb to alcohol use. The remaining money they had was spent on booze, deepening their already gigantic ordeal.
Even as a teenage girl, Archana felt the need to act. She engaged in wage labor and made little cash to bring home. Despite her work, her one dream remained unfulfilled: to receive a proper education. When we offered our Captivating Village Development Program’s (CVP) Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in their community, she immediately took the opportunity. In her village, education for girls is not the most thrilling idea. To them, women and girls (especially poor ones) are only meant for domestic servitude.
Arachana knew she was capable of other things, too. She just needed the opportunity to start. She felt grateful for the opportunity to learn how to read and write. As she reflected on her experience, she shared:
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be one of the few girls selected for the ALP Centre. I understood the notion of taking time for oneself is essential; it allowed me to explore perspectives beyond household chores and caring for my siblings. I haven’t just made friends; I have gained valuable insights into life skills. My community is often preoccupied with arranging marriages for girls, so I focused on understanding child marriage, a deliberate violation of human rights that endangers girls’ lives and health. Many girls suffer due to a lack of awareness and parental pressure about the dangers of child marriage. I have shared this knowledge with my parents, and I firmly insist that we must avoid such harmful practices until I can stand on my own feet.”
With a wide smile on her face, she continues:
“I actively support my mother with household chores because I see it as my responsibility. However, I also prioritize my self-development by learning new skills. My plan is to engage myself in income-generating business or work so that I can support my family. I am deeply grateful to Captivating International for empowering out-of-school girls and paving the way for brighter futures for girls like me.”
Her story rings a true testament that many girls from impoverished backgrounds are capable, ambitious, and driven once allowed to demonstrate their full potential.
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