CASE 2

Overcoming Adversity: Basanti Theeng’s Story’s of Education and Empowerment Date captured:

My name is Basanti Theeng. I am 17 years old, and I was born in Khursanibari Chakatitaal Manahari 4. I am member of Khursanibari adolescence group formed by ETSC Nepal and I am also a local football player representing my community at Masine. We were living in a village where life is very difficult. Children’s are growing up over there, especially girls, are deprived of their basic rights. I faced many challenges to have access to education, but my mother supported my studies and worked hard to give me an education. One of the hardest challenges I encountered was poverty, as my father never supported me or helped my mother for my school expenses. My mother is illiterate and a victim of early marriage. My father has a habit of drink and no involvement in any other family work. My mother and I several times enable our sustenance and worked very hard on farms which is supported by ETSC Nepal for my fee. Since my father is not involved in any income generating work my mother could not able to help me to educate me to continue to my higher education. But my story is not finished yet for longing to achieve my dreams and ETSC Nepal’s community mobilizer Ms. Bishnumaya who knew my situation and always helping me. Last month when I was compelled to leave college because of unable to paid fee. Ms. Bishnumaya came to know this situation myself and she talked about it with ward chiefs Mr. Prakash Thapa. During this period and all procedure, she had fought a good fight for me she got a recommendation letter from ward chairperson for scholarship to submit in my college as a very poor family. Because of this recommendation letter our college has listed my name in its scholarship up to plus two-level study. I am the only girl in my family who completed studies up to SEE and trying to achieve my dreams. This was due to my strong determination and persistence to be what I wanted to be and also because of ETSC Nepal supporting in the last 3 years. I am thankful for this help and happy for what ETSC has done to me.