I come from a very poor family. My father is a tailor and he would farm other people’s land, but it was hard to manage with just one person earning money
I went to a government school and passed my school leavers exam with top grades. I wanted to do more studying, but my family couldn’t afford it. My father asked me to forget about my hopes for further study and stay at home.
I met someone who said they knew a family in Kathmandu who were looking for help. She said I could go and work for them and study at the same time. So, I went to Kathmandu and began to work in that house and study at the local college. I was 16 years old.
Everything was okay at first, and then the wife who lived there began to complain about everything I did. She scolded and beat me.
Every day I would get up at 5am and clean the whole house. Then I could go to college for a few hours before coming back and doing all the cleaning and washing until 8pm. I never got time off on weekends.
One day the wife pulled my hair badly and attacked me for not polishing her husband’s shoes. I felt so humiliated and I cried a lot that day.
From then on, I was beaten and humiliated every day. I was only allowed to eat the leftovers of the owners’ food. There was a lot of space in the house, but I had to sleep in a small place under the stairs.
I stayed there for four years. I was scared to leave. If I had returned to my village, my family could not have afforded to look after me, but I was determined to get an education.”
Now I’m in my third year of a humanities degree. My family is very happy and proud that their daughter has achieved this.
When I was in that house, I couldn’t defend myself. I was not aware that my rights were being violated. Now I have the confidence to speak up against what is wrong.”
Narrative provided by Anti-Slavery International
