Swastika

Swastika’s parents were simple farmers. They did not own any land and lived in a remote village in far West Nepal. When she was born, her father was disappointed; he did not want a daughter. Growing up, Swastika and her siblings never had the opportunity to go to school. They never got to experience the childhood others did.

When she finally reached her teenage years, her parents wanted Swastika to get married. They did not want the burden of raising her any longer. Shortly after she was married, her husband started disappearing from the house. He would not come back for days. His family finally asked Swastika to leave too. She did not know what to do, had nowhere to go, and had no family to welcome her.

Alone, with no family or friends, Swastika met another man. He showed her love and kindness. He told her he would support her in finding a job. She felt happy. He asked her to travel to India with him. As they were about to cross the border, Swastika was stopped by the border counselors. Before she could tell them about her friend, he ran away. After speaking with the counselors and sharing her story, reality set in. She couldn’t believe what she had just been saved from. Swastika agreed to become our daughter and has graduated from the Safe Home and Training Center.

“I have graduated from the Training Center with a skill. I love being a men’s hairdresser. That is something unique in my community - a woman cutting a man’s hair. People visit me because they see the work I do and are impressed by it. I am proud to be independent, I am proud of myself.”

Swastika has just recently opened her very own hair salon!