I am Savita Tamang, 30 years old; Asha Nepal has been my home for 10 years.
My mom was sold in India when she was very young. She became pregnant and sought an abortion, but my father said he would take full responsibility if the child was a boy. When I was born a girl, he refused to accept me. My mom was miserable; she had never wanted me in the first place. She sent me to various people who kept me for short periods. When I contracted polio, it became even harder to find someone to take me. Finally my mother paid a maid a large sum to take me, and I was raised in that family.
The woman’s son and daughter-in-law abused me. They forced me to do household chores dawn to dusk even when I was seriously ill. I have the bitter memory of being hungry for long periods. Eventually they forced me to marry a very poor man who didn’t even have a proper place to stay. But they lied to my mom, continuing to request money for my support.
When I refused to do what this man told me, he became violent. One day, he threw me out of the house. I was miserable. I went to stay with an aunt who had been trafficked to the brothel. She hid me in her place for three weeks, but knowing she couldn’t protect me long, she begged for help from the Bombay Teen Challenge outreach team. They arranged my rescue. I asked them to help my mom too, and they were able to free her a few months later. We both were recommended to Shared Hope International’s Village of Hope at Asha Nepal — where we started our lives again.
My mom was with me for three years before she died. My family at Asha Nepal consoled me in my grief.
I wanted to utilize the beautiful life God gave me. At school, I got good grades. I work at Asha Nepal as a caregiver for the children. Now I’m in my second year of college, studying Sociology. I’m working very hard: it’s difficult after such a long gap in my education!
God has blessed me in many ways; my dream is to be a good example for those who have lost hope and faith. I also want a family of my own, and lead a normal, happy life. God has proven to me that nothing is impossible in Him!
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