Salina O.

This is Salina, a 13 year old studying in the sixth grade at Jana Prabhat School, thanks to a generous sponsor. Salina is the third of four siblings. Salina’s father died in 2004. He had witnessed the royal massacre in 2001 and was subsequently tortured severely by palace staff. As a result he became mentally unstable and later died. Salina’s mother lives in a small village several hours from Kathmandu. She has a tiny piece of land with a few goats and chickens. With no money to send Salina to school, and little to eat, she sent Salina to Kathmandu to live with an older married sister. Salina’s sister rents one room, where the family sleeps and cooks. They, too, have few things and little food. Salina is a good student, though, and likes to go to school. Her dream is to be a pilot. The money donated by her sponsor goes for school admission fee, examination fee, school uniform, shoes, undergarments, books, notebooks, pencils, and a day time snack.