I have often been asked why am I staying in Pokhara when I had options to go out and explore the world. I’d like to share my story. Story of why I am here; Story of why did CWE come into existence;
I had a relatively different childhood. A big family of 4 kids is not easy to manage. My village, where I was born was aloof of the modern amenities. Shyuali Bazar is a typical countryside picture. But I always saw people from distant lands coming there and walking for miles. Somehow I never felt the gap of not having a constant parent and the credit goes to my grandmother.
She always went beyond her means to make my brothers and I happy. She would be empty stomach but we were fed to our hearts’ content. Perhaps, this is why my attachment with Granny was far beyond.
I remember my friends and I would go down to the richest man’s house during Dashain festival just to get few coins and good food at his door. I have very clear memories about his house which had a Green Lantern.
Here we were without electricity and a kerosene glass lamp. That flicking Green Lantern was my Aim in Life. I wanted to own one. If you visit my farm, you will notice these lanterns at every corner. It is a significance of where I have come from.
Call it the game of fortune when a wanderer came down to my grandma’s small tea house and took shelter. In a dim light’s conversation, he offered to take my younger brother to Katmandu and give education and good food. Against all the coarse words of the neighbours, my father sent him away. When it was my turn to leave my family and join my brother, I never had a say. Off I was walking all the way from Shayuli Bazar to Pokhara. ( there was no road) a good 8 hours walk to wonder where was my new life taking me.
It is funny that today it takes me just 2 hours to reach my home from Pokhara, with my own van. There was a time when the only tractor would come near the river in Shyauli all the kids, along with me, would run down to it.
Life in a Children’s home was not the same. There were rules to follow and discipline to maintain. Anyway, the new school in Katmandu was not very tough for me to coupe up with, I was always a good student. I was trusted by the authorities and they actually gave me the responsibility of choosing more kids from my village to have a chance to change their lives. I made it a point everyone got a fair chance and truly deserved it.
When I would go back to the village during holidays, those very people who accused my father of “selling” his kids to the white man, were the ones standing at awe. I could speak in English with the foreigners who came for a visit. They were proud of me, I could see it.
I always felt I was on a runway hopping from one place to another as the organisation that took me would always be changing places. Well, it was a good thing because I got to travel a lot and mix with new kids every time. After my 8th standard, my family was a little stable and they afforded my completion till 10th standard in Bhorletar, Lamjung. I then went to Chitwan to complete my 11th and 12th grade. I wanted to study more so I contacted the sponsor in the organization who laid my base. They took me under the shade and within no time I was doing my Graduation.
It was about that time, a young man thrilled with passion, I took the call of doing something for my village and the villagers. Because the guy who took me in was on the verge of stopping the whole project, I had to take some role in stopping that. Around the same time Maoist revolution was on fire and little kids were dragged into it. I knew what a good childhood could do for someone.
I maintained my connection all the other people who were supporting and sponsoring and they were good enough to give their helping hand. I thought I could manage to start something new, help other children. I had personal doubts because I was studying and taking something up that huge all by myself. But I took a leap of self-faith. The initial days were so tough. I wanted to take in any child who was in need but to open an orphanage it was mandatory to have fully orphaned kids. I was aware that having a parent just doesn’t mean in terms of biology, they have to nurture the kids too. I could not leave the abandoned ones. After a lot of fight and convincing I sorted that scene out.
It is nice to hear my old neighbours say that Me and my family has done a lot for them. I got electricity in my village, made a bus stand. I also took the Health Center that runs in my village under my control so that it doesn’t stop giving benefits to the locals. I would like to think of this as an achievement.
So here I am, writing this in my own office at Pokhara. The very boy who never saw a car, a tube-light, or a concrete house. It is a story of a little boy who was given a new life by a person and within a Children’s home. It has been 15 years that Child Welfare and Education is running. I have a good lot of 100 kids, my own kids. Currently about 29 kids are in Pokhara, CWE Children Home. Their morning laugher is something I look forward too. I am not just someone who opened an orphanage but also someone who stayed good long years within it. It is not just about having four walls and a shed but also about love, respect and care. My children tell me they love me, they bring their small and big needs to me. These children are my life, yes they do not bring me a lot of money, but it was never money I wanted. I could have settled anywhere for that. I wanted no child to face the petty times I faced. This is why CWE came into being and holds strong.
I thank everyone who has helped in the construction of CWE in any small and big way. Without them this journey would have been tougher.
My hopes for the future of CWE is brighter because I know I do not stand alone.
At CWE our mission is to provide a safe and loving environment where children can grow up healthy and happy. We help them achieve their dreams. We strive to help each person in our program get the education they need so they can improve their poor living status and carry on in life in their own way. Our hope is that the children and families whose lives we touch will realize their potential and experience brighter tomorrows.