On the 31st of January, around ten-ish in the morning, we kicked off our journey for Likche. Guiding us to her home/village was Hira Maya Moktan, for whom it was her last day at Shangri-La Development Association (SDA) Literacy Home in Kalikatar.
Having spent the last five years in SDA Literacy Home, Hira was bidding adieu upon being selected for Proficiency Certificate Level in Nursing in Chitwan.
Hira Maya Moktan from Kailash – 4 Likchhe is a 17 years old student who came to SDA Literacy Home in 2073 B.S. She belongs to a lower-class family from a marginalized community.
At twelve years old, Hira was shy and hesitant when she first came to the SDA Literacy Home. At 17 now, Hira is a much more confident and determined person.
“I was not good at my studies before I got here (SDA Literacy Home) but I worked on my weaknesses, and my studies improved over time,” Hira says, recalling her past.
Interested in playing football, Hira and her classmates had won a football competition held in their school. Besides playing football, learning choreography together and singing and dancing with friends in Literacy Home are memories Hira fondly reminisced about while talking to us.
There are a total of six members in the family of Hira. When we reached the home, her sister in law who was feeding the cattle, greeted and welcomed us. Hira then took us inside her house and requested us to be seated. After a while, her grandfather came to greet us and engaged in a conversation with us.
The rest of the family members, her older brother and two younger sisters, live in Kathmandu. Her sisters, aged 9 and 15, stay in Shangri La Home in Lalitpur and are supported by the SDA organization.
Her family members at Likche do farming and rearing cattle for their livelihood.
Keenly interested in Science and Economics from her school subjects, Hira Maya sees herself doing a job she loves, preferably in a village in the future.
Lack of proper roads and electricity are the main challenges in Kailash Rural Municipality. Hira further added that not having well-built schools with good facilities and regular classes has hampered pursuing education. Had her place had accessibility of basic things, it might have been easier to dream bigger and chase those dreams for Hira.
As a young girl, Hira liked the way nurses presented themselves. She admired their dresses and behaviors too. Moreover, she was inspired to see them take care of the patients and aimed to be like them.
Speaking of inspiring figures, her brother is the source of her inspiration because he encourages Hira to focus on her studies. Apart from them, her grandfather and sister in law also inspire her to dream high and keep her ambitions alive.
Aspiring to work at hospitals in Kailash Rural Municipality after completing nursing, Hira credits SDA as an organization, being her ultimate support system. She is very thankful to the SDA team for guiding her thus far. She mentioned Sagar Thapa, Coordinator and Anjali Baruwal, Hostel Warden for consistently being her motivational guardian.
“If it were not for SDA, then I probably would not be studying right now,” Hira adds with certainty.
Playing and studying together with her friends is something that Hira will miss the most about the Literacy Home. When asked if she had any complaints regarding SDA, she replied with a no.
Hira says that she will miss the rotis (flour-made flat round dish) made by her compassionate and helpful friends in the kitchen of SDA Literacy Home.
Many people of her age group are married, which, while seeming odd, is almost a norm in Kailash Rural Municipality. But, as someone only 17, marriage is totally off the table for Hira because, as an educated person she understands the value of education and a stable career. She plans to continue her studies and only wants to marry once she becomes a financially independent grown woman.
In addition to providing the students with education, SDA also offers its hostel students with different recreational and knowledge/skill gaining activities. It helps students acquire expertise and comprehension in several subjects that can come in handy throughout their life. SDA hostel students are competent beyond their curriculum courses ranging from sports to tailoring and more.
During her five years-long stays in the SDA Literacy home, Hira got plenty of opportunities to participate in various types of activities. Some were educational, and others were skill-building based, such as Reusable Sanitary Pad Making Training.
Hira also remembers celebrating many special days like Child Day and festivals such as Holi, Christmas and New Year and cultural programs in the SDA Literacy Home.
Hira also participated in poem competitions, speech competitions, and other ExtraCurricular Activities in SDA Literacy Home. She also came first in an oratory competition on Environment Pollution and won a diary as a prize. Participating in these programs evoked her interest in different issues, and she gained new perspectives.
SDA as an organization recognizes the desire of students to read outside of the coursebook, which is commendable. It also helps the students to enrich their imagination and creativity.
Hira loves reading Nepali novels. During her stay in the SDA Literacy home, she borrowed books from the library there and read in her free time. So far, she has read over an impressive number of forty books. Her favorite books are Deuti and Cheer Haran.
“I am eternally grateful to SDA for providing me with all the opportunities. I would not be where I am today if not for SDA. I would be busy looking after cattle and collecting fodder and firewood if not married off already. I am thankful to the SDA team for helping me. I hope the team carries on helping, loving and supporting people from marginalized communities like me,” Hira adds with gratitude.
Hira hopes the SDA team keeps up the work and continues to improve the environment for the students at the SDA hostel to study, dream big and thrive.
In the end, Hira thanked SDA and the team for being there at her home and hearing her story. SDA appreciates Hira for agreeing to share her journey and wishes her all the best for her future.