Children's Stories: Kumari |
 Unlike the three siblings with whom she lived, Kumari was not permitted to go to school; she spent her days at home, doing of all the family's domestic work by herself. The reason was tragically simple: she was a girl, and her three siblings were boys.Kumari also had an older sister who had recently married and lived with her husband in Mulpani, Kathmandu. When her sister had a child, Kumari was sent to care for the newborn. She dutifully obliged, babysitting her new nephew all day while taking care of the household chores. When the child was old enough to go to school, Kumari was given a choice: go back to her village or find work for herself. At the age of just 11, Kumari began working as a weaver in a carpet factory. She continued to live with her sister and brother-in-law—and they kept all the money she earned. That all changed on September 15, 2004, when she was rescued by a GoodWeave inspector. At a GoodWeave rehabilitation center, her lifelong dream began to come true: she started school. Two and half years later, Kumari was reunited with her family—only this time, her schooling was guaranteed by a GoodWeave pledge to provide all her school expenses, including her tuition, books, supplies and uniform, along with a monthly allowance. Once she graduates, Kumari wants to become a teacher, so that she can give all of the girls in her village the same chance that GoodWeave gave her. |
