Bishnu’s Dream Lives On

A little over a month ago, we put out a plea on behalf of a young girl, Bishnu, one of the many casualties of the tragedies that befall Nepalese migrant labourers in Qatar. Within twenty-four hours, three generous people and an organisation in Kathmandu, Higher Ground, donated the necessary funds, ensuring, for the time being, Bishnu did not need to abandon her dream of continuing her education. She does not need to give up her studies and go looking for a job to support her family and siblings. Had it not been for the generous donations, as the first-born in the family, she would have had to shoulder the burden of taking care of her siblings and family.

On October 9th, we were able to make the first deposit and just last week on November 8, we made the second deposit. Every month around the 8th, for the next four months, COMMITTED will be depositing Rs. 15000 into Bishnu’s mom’s bank account. The remaining balance will be deposited in the last month, the seventh month. (Click here for COMMITTED’s education-sponsorship policy.) Bishnu will complete her 12th grade then. (I am in touch with her and have been talking to her about her plans after that.)

The fund covers Bishnu and her siblings’ education-related expenses. It pays for,  for instance, their monthly tuition fees at the school, private tuition fees (held at the school outside of normal school hours), textbooks, stationary, school uniforms etc. The Principal at Shree Bhimsen Higher Secondary School, the school most of the children attend, will be assisting us in monitoring the progress of the children’s education.

Five of the children, including Bishnu, attend Shree Bhimsen Higher Secondary School in Sundanda-1. Those children are Rajesh in 7th grade, Laxman in 8th grade, Sharmila in 8th grade and Laxmi also in 8th grade. (Her father had two wives, hence the children of similar ages!) The school is a little over an hour walk each way from where her family lives. The sixth one, her brother Raj Kumar, a 7th grader, attends Shree Bhim Karina School in Karina-5, a school located in the same area as the other school. Bishnu, however, is hoping to transfer him to the school she and the rest attend.

Once again, thanks are due to Karla, Gillian, an anonymous donor and Higher Ground in Kathmandu for their generous donations.

Please check back here for more updates etc.

Dorje
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013.

Dorje Gurung
Education Program Director

(Click here for the original on Dorje’s Dooing Blog.)