Rikita BK’s first four years of life were ones marked with extreme hardship and pain.

Growing up in a tiny shack on the banks of the Seti River with her three siblings and her mother, Rikita and her family faced unbearable hunger. So unbearable that the older siblings, Subash and Prakash left home. Prakash found work as a domestic labourer while Subash ended up on the street. To provide for the family, Rikita’s mother left the two youngest children at home alone, for 3-4 days at a time while she worked.

Rikita, only four, begged for food with her younger brother Ridum, just a year and a half. They lay together alone at night in their shack; no lights, door, or adults to protect them.

Subash struggled with life in the streets, becoming highly addicted to sniffing glue. Fortunately, he found the Himalayan Life Street Kitchen and once he trusted staff enough, he transitioned to the Shelter. There, he shared information about the younger sister and brother he left behind. He was worried they had died of hunger.

HL staff searched for the shack and found the two children, both extremely weak and unable to walk due to severe starvation.

They bought them food, water and clean clothes. Both kids believed their mother was at work, but HL staff found out that she had left her children, for good. In the following days Rikita and Ridum were brought to the Shelter.

Rikita and Ridum have been at the Street-2-School home for five years now. They received shelter, food, water and clothing, but also emotional care. This nurturing love has allowed Rikita and Ridum to heal from childhood traumas and flourish in their new environments.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

When Himalayan Life began offering adult literacy classes in Yangri, 45-year-old Jyoti Tamang signed up immediately. Jyoti never had the chance to go to school yet always understood the power of education. That’s why, despite the indifference of her husband, all three of her children went to school.

Jyoti, knows what it means to be illiterate; always at a disadvantage as if blindfolded. Finally, this was HER chance to enter the world of education! However, this time, her husband was not just indifferent, but furious. What had bewitched his wife so much that she wanted to attend an hour-long class every day when there was work to be done?

Meanwhile, Jyoti learned to read and write, and do simple math. She learned about hygiene, health and nutrition, and because of her newly acquired education, positive changes entered the Tamang household.

Jyoti is no longer taken advantage of when shopping and can support her children better as they go through school. Her husband, having experienced the change in his family, now supports Jyoti as she continues her education.

Their youngest daughter, Kushi, is attending grade 5 at Himalayan Life’s Yangri Academic Center where she is motivated to work hard. The school’s values are not lost on Khushi either: she is inspired to integrate quality, integrity, hope and care in her own life, and aspires to be an agent of change.

Actually, she is an agent of change. Kushi and Jyoti’s continued education have been changing the trajectory of her family from a path marked by alcoholism, violence and despair, to a future filled with hope.

Himalayan Life’s reach and impact are strengthened through partnerships. This year we launched Mountain Plastic with Everest climber and Seven Summiter, Joyce Azzam as our Himalayan Life ambassador. Mountain Plastic is Himalayan Life Plastic’s endeavour to sell recycled plastic to the shoe and activewear industry.

Mountain Plastic also allows us to help people and organizations go carbon neutral by offsetting. This past year we helped the Vancouver Mountain Film Festival and the Mission Central Conference go carbon neutral.

himalayanlife.com/go-carbon-neutral

VISION

We are a Christian charity that exists to enhance the lives of children in the Himalayas. Through protecting, nurturing and educating children, we aim to move them from a place of not-life to life.