Scholarships for Girls in Nepal

 About us: Bidya is a 501(c) (3) organization supporting female students in Nepal who face difficulties completing their education due to poverty and other harsh circumstances. Unlike similar organizations, we make a long-term commitment to supporting our scholars throughout their educational journeys. Bidya enrolls scholars in a private or public English-medium school in Nepal, covering tuition, school supplies, and other education-related expenses until they finish university. Nepalese girls, especially those from a lower caste and who live in poverty, are often subject to child marriage. They have very limited opportunities. Bidya believes that by supporting and empowering our scholars, we stop her from being another child bride, and we hope that she will break out of the poverty cycle to create a different future for herself.

 

Scholars Highlight

 

Manisha Magar: Manisha was only six years old when her father passed away in an unfortunate accident at a construction site where he worked. Her father had brought Manisha to Pokhara, a city in Nepal, from Rolpa, a highly undeveloped area in Nepal, in the hope of providing her with a better education. To make ends meet, he worked 14-hour grueling shifts at a dangerous construction site, only to make less than three dollars a day. No matter how draining his job was, her father, like any parent with an unwavering love for one’s child, was committed to Manisha’s future. Thus, he happily spent almost a third of his salary on her education. After her father’s passing, Manisha’s mother worked as a construction worker, earning a wage that was barely enough to cover rent and food for Manisha and her four year-old brother, let alone Manisha’s tuition. This brought the Magar family to Bidya. She has been part of our organization for almost three years and is currently in 6th grade at Sitaldevi School in Pokhara, Nepal. Manisha hopes to be an elementary school teacher.


Manisha with her mother 

 

Roshni (Manika) BK : Like many parents, Manika’s mother, Saraswati BK, and father, Sher Bahadur BK, moved from Madhi, a rural municipality, to Pokhara, Nepal in the hopes of providing a better future for their three children. Both Saraswati and Sher Bahadur worked as construction workers. Despite working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, the BK family’s salary was not sufficient enough to meet basic needs like paying rent, buying medicine for Manika's disabled, 83 year old grandmother, and funding their children's education. Saraswati and Sher Bahadur still remained hopeful for the future, so they borrowed money from their neighbors and family members to pay for the remaining expenses. The couple was certain that they would be able to repay the money by working more hours. Unfortunately, inflation decreased the value of their salaries. They had to borrow more and more money, and then could not pay their existing debt. Suddenly, the future did not look so bright to Saraswati. She fell into despair feeling that her life was not worth living if she could not even provide her children with a basic education and necessities. In May 2019, 35 year-old Saraswati took her life leaving her husband and three children. Saraswati's death completely shattered the BK family. Manika was on the brink of ending her educational pursuit, but with Bidya’s support, Manika is now in 7th grade at Shree Laxmi Secondary School. Manika shared that while she will never be the same after Saraswati’s death, she is somewhat hopeful about her future, knowing that she will be able to go to school without having to worry about the finances.

  Manika with her younger brother 

Please consider donating to Bidya today. 100% of your donation goes toward funding these scholarships. Bidya is in need of approximately $2,000 - $2,500 each to add at least two scholars to help sponsor their education until they finish college. If you have any questions or want to donate to us directly, please feel free to reach out to us. Bidya appreciates your support.

 

In memory of Saraswati BK (1984-2019)