Education Unhindered By Poverty

• Nandaram Jaisi

There is no fertile land and no consistent source of income for the family. Gita Badi's schooling were cut short when she completed class 5 due to financial constraints. Gita has a passion to read. However, her family, which has been sieving sand in Juprakhola, Birendranagar, has been unable to provide her with higher education. Gita's parents got stressed when they were unable to meet their daughter's desire to study owing to a lack of funds.

There is a settlement of Badi community on the bank of Juprakhola. Where children are forced to suppress their desire to continue higher level education due to lack of finances. The children of the settlement study up to the 5th standard by carrying sand with their parents. But poverty deprives them of their dream to pursue higher level education. But Gita Badi's desire to study did not stop there. Gita is currently studying for a bachelor's degree in management at the Mid-Western University.

Gita Badi, 21, lives in Juprakhola, where gravel and sand are the major sources of income for her family. The family will survive until the gravel and sand are crushed and transported. However, as the saying goes, "where there is a will, there is a way," an NGO called Love and Hope Nepal stepped in to assist Gita achieve her ambition of earning a higher education degree. The organization provided financial assistance to Gita, who had been deprived of education. The nonprofit organization not only provided school uniforms and educational supplies, but also brought her to Kathmandu, paving the path for the Gita to pursue further education.

'I am in a situation where I have nothing to eat until the sand is sieved. "How could I study in such a situation?" Gita says, 'Due to financial constraints, I was forced to discontinue my studies in the midst. However, thanks to the organization's help, I am now enrolled at university. Geeta was supported by this organization under the education for all project 8 years ago.

This group has not only protected Gita, but also children from other villages, notably Badi, who are extremely and vulnerable to human trafficking. As a result, children's education has become consistent. Gita claims that after completing her studies, she plans to pursue his childhood ambition of becoming a banker.

Similarly, Srijana Nepali, a resident of Birendranagar-7, was considering to drop out. She couldn't afford to study, even if she wanted to, due to the family's financial circumstances. However, she has finally achieved her goal of becoming a staff nurse. Her family did not have the financial resources to train her to be a nurse. Love and Hope Nepal also fulfilled Srijana's passion to read. Srijana, who was able to study with the financial assistance of the organization, passed nursing with good grades four years ago. She currently holds a good position.

If Renu Nepali, who is presently residing in Birendranagar-7, had not received assistance, her schooling would most likely have been discontinued.She would have been sieving sand in the same river. However, after receiving academic assistance, she completed her 12th grade education and has begun preparing to pursue further education in Japan.

Gita, Renu, and Srijana are only representational characters. Many characters are unable to pursue their studies in the midst owing to financial constraints and poverty. Those who have fulfilled their goal to study via the assistance of non-governmental organizations. They became self-employed after completing their higher studies. However, in Karnali, the number of youngsters who have interrupted their schooling in the middle owing to poverty remains significant.

In Karnali, 18,000 children are still out of school, with a substantial number of them coming from low-income households. According to the National Census 2078, 18,600 students in 10 Karnali districts are out of school owing to natural calamities like as floods, landslides, and financial limitations.

Our constitution specifies that basic education is compulsory and free for all. However, children from low-income households in Karnali must rely on charitable donations to attend school. Love and Hope Nepal is now funding the education of 135 children from Badi and other communities that are at risk of human trafficking in the six districts of Karnali, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim.

The organization's president, Shambhu Pokhrel, stated, "Many children are deprived of an education due to poverty. Many people have dropped out of school due to lack of funds. We supported the education of some youngsters; nevertheless, the state should now invest in the education of such children."