Anecdotes

Kabita Danwar, a 22-year-old residing in Sukedhara, Kathmandu, is originally from the Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal. She is currently pursuing her third year of Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) at Brooklyn College, Sukedhara. Her early life was marked by hardship. Kabita grew up in a family of four—her parents, an older brother, and herself. Her mother worked tirelessly as a daily wage laborer, while her father, a factory worker, struggled with alcoholism. Rather than contributing to the family expenses, her father spent his earnings on alcohol, often resorting to physical and emotional abuse. While her mother worked to meet the needs, her father sometimes resorted to physically abusing Kabita’s mother just to buy more alcohol. Kabita’s mother endured the worst of his violence, and Kabita and her brother also suffered in the harsh environment. At times, they were left without basic necessities, even going hungry for a whole day which resulted in Kabita facing chronic gastric problems. Her father’s behavior drove Kabita’s brother to leave home, while her mother, determined to give her daughter a better future, encouraged her to move to Kathmandu. Though moving to the capital city promised opportunities, it came with a lot of challenges. For her education, a maternal uncle suggested a college, which turned out to be more expensive than anticipated. Kabita soon discovered that his recommendation was selfish, as he was benefiting from a commission. Struggling to pay the fees, her mother had no choice but to take out a loan. In Kathmandu, Kabita stayed with her grandparents and brother, but life was far from peaceful. Her brother, who was once a victim of their father’s violence, turned bitter, often berating her and calling her a burden. To escape his mistreatment and support herself, Kabita worked as a domestic worker and later in a local hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel environment exposed her to frequent sexual harassment, leaving her deeply traumatized and depressed. She even considered dropping her studies due to extreme sadness. Despite her despair, Kabita held onto her education as her only hope for a better future and a way to uplift her mother. Support came in the form of a neighborhood woman who introduced her to the Chhori organization, which provides aid to women and children facing violence. Kabita has been staying in their emergency shelter for a year now, finding temporary relief and a sense of safety. Yet, her struggles continued as she faced pressure to secure long-term housing and employment. The family’s financial struggles were added when her brother expressed a desire to go abroad for better job opportunities. With no savings, her mother took out yet another loan to support him. However, due to her brother’s carelessness, the money was lost, leaving the family deeper in debt. Adding to her challenges, her father recently suffered a severe hand injury at work, requiring hospitalization. With no savings, her mother had to take out yet another loan to cover the medical expenses. Furthermore, because her father’s hands are injured, her mother has to provide him with alcohol even though she does not want to, as he cannot function without it and starts to tremble. Despite everything she has suffered, Kabita remains set on her dream of becoming a banker. She hopes to achieve financial independence, clear her family’s debts, and stand against the violence faced by women and girls. Kabita is grateful for the U-Go scholarship, which has given her a new sense of hope. She dreams of making her mother proud, breaking free from the cycle of hardship, and building a brighter future for herself and her family.