SCH Student｜Grade 11｜Tembathang, Sindupalchowk
“My mother’s dream is to be an educated girl and help people who are hopeless. She was not able to complete it. I will do my best to complete it.”- Dawa Lamo Sherpa
Childhood
She was brought to Ladakh, India by her parents when she was young. Her parents have been working there as laborers for many years. While her parents work in Ladakh she used to help her parents in making bricks and cooking. They had just come back to Nepal in 2014 and built a home in Tembathang village-Gumba VDC, Sindupalchok Nepal with the money they earned from their hardship.
Dawa Doma joined in grade one in her village school after she came back from India. She used to help her parents at the home after school. Both of her parents are farmers. They have a small field in her village where they can cultivate potatoes and wheat. These two corps are not enough for the whole year and they have to work extra. Such as weaving bamboo baskets, bamboo roofing and labor are their cash income for home expenses.
Nightmare: Tremendous earthquake shook the whole mountain
When there was an earthquake on 25 April 2015. She was with her parent somewhere far from her village in the mountain to find “Yarcha-Gunbu” (Cordyceps sinensis) Collecting this herb is the best opportunity for the people who live in the Himalayas. This year they couldn’t find any herbal but were hit by a tremendous earthquake. She was scared of going back to her village. She even doesn’t want to remember the moment which shook the whole mountain for a few minutes and made them flee to Kathmandu.
Little Refugee: Fled to Kathmandu staying in temporary temp
It took two days to catch the bus when she came to Kathmandu with their whole community. It takes two days of walking to their remote village after the bus station.
Before she came to SCH’s hostel she was staying in a temporary shelter at the corner of Kathmandu valley where she spent around 3 months. The earthquake not only destroyed her family home but also her first school.
The eldest and excellent sister helping other SCH children
She was taken care of by SCH and went to a school. She is open-minded, frank, hard-working, and intelligent. So, the school principal admitted her to grade two. “This is the happiest moment in my life,” she told us in her mixed (Indian and Nepali) language after she dressed up in school uniform. “I don’t know what I will be in the future because I am not the one who can decide my own future like most of the others but I am very happy to study now“
Besides this, She is also interested in singing and dancing. She is the oldest in the SCH hostel among other children and takes care of other little brothers and sisters. As time goes by, now Dawa is attending grade 12th at Venus National College. Her aim is to become a doctor to help villagers and needy people in the future.
Best wishes to her!
Dawa says :
“Namaste, I have learnt many things in SCH. We all live together, help each other and I feel like living in a big family. Living in a big family is very joyful. We can teach each other, help each other and understand each other. I am very thankful to all the sponsors for helping me and other people for building their future.”
Dawa’s Special Life Moments
Unforgettable Moment:
I cannot forget that time during the earthquake in my village. I was climbing hills, searching for herbs. Suddenly birds were flying, tress and lands were shaking and I could see the rocks falling from top of hills. I was so scared and thought it might be end of life. When It stopped, I ran to safe place. Many relatives passed away because of that earthquake. It is sad moment that I can’t forget.
Experience with family:
There are 5 members in my family including parents, 2 brothers and myself. My father used to tell me about fairytale stories. My brother used to carry me on his back whenever I cried or I was sad. We have a lovely and happy family. My mother is very good at cooking and she prepares delicious food items and I love to eat those foods.
Experience on farming:
In my village, most of the families depend upon agriculture for living. We have cows and goats and small lands for farming. Keeping cows are difficult because if we don’t take cow to graze for a day, cows go to other’s fields and graze their crops and plants and we have to compensate. We have to take them each and every day.
Hometown:
My village is located in Sindupachowk. It is surrounded by hills and mountains. There are variety of wild plants and animals. It is very beautiful, and we can enjoy evergreen scenarios of hills and snow-covered mountains. Problems are that there is lack of transportation and electricity facilities.
Meat:
In home, chicken is favorite non-veg item. Most of the time, my parents bring chicken meat. But sometimes we prefer mutton and pork for different taste and diet.
Winter Season:
My village is near to Mountains, so it is much cold during wintertime. We prefer to use warm water for washing and bathing purposes. Our hands and lips become dry due to coldness and hands and legs get swollen if we do not wear warm clothes and socks. We used to wear clothes made from wool to avoid coldness.
My One day:
I wake up early in the morning and get fresh. I prepare a tea for my whole family. After tea, my father goes to field and mother goes to cow farm. At that time, I prepare lunch and after having lunch, I go to the fields. After returning, I eat snacks and go to grazing animals. Then, I return and prepare dinner for my family members. I do my homework and go to bed.
