Amrita Ojha

Amrita came to us through Subash. She used to attend the school where Subash teaches, but had to leave because of family circumstances. Here is Subash’s letter to us describing her situation:

She used to be a student from my school but she left the school because her family couldn’t afford the schooling fee. Her name is Amrita Ojha. She is 10 years old. She lives in Dhulikhel at her maternal uncles home. Her father married another woman when she was just a child as per the information I got she was 1 and half yrs old.  And then she was raised by her mother leaving her father’s home and they shifted to her maternal uncle’s home. And then about 2 yrs ago her mother got married with the next man leaving her alone at her maternal uncle’s home. She is living with her maternal uncle family. She used to be student of our school but her uncle took her out from our school because he couldn’t afford the school expenses since he had his own children and due to extra burden in school expenses.

I heard she always keep on looking to the our school bus everyday on her way to home because she missed our school. Isn’t that the heart touching one? That small girl is bearing so many problems due to the wrong decisions that her parents took. So one of her neighbours told me about that. If we can help her I think it would be great at least she can get the quality education though she didn’t get the proper care from her family. Her neighbour was requesting us what if we can keep her  not in her school expenses only but the full hostel facilities. They were saying how long would her maternal uncles can take care of her?? Since he has his own family to look for.

And I forget to mention that she is taken care by her grandmother and I got the information that her grandmother drink much. I heard that she is like alcoholic that is also why her neighbours were telling me to keep her at hostel. 

We agreed to help Amrita go back to school and to live at the boarding facility, since it sounds like she will have much more consistency and predictability in her education and living situation this way. The school has given her some dresses, quilts and other bedding for free for her room, and she is already enrolled at the school. They are willing to help with the costs a bit, so it will be less of a cost to ONE. We are so happy to have Amrita join our family, and we wish her all the best. Now she doesn’t have to look longingly every day at the school bus as it goes by. Welcome, Amrita!

August 2024

Subash tells us that Amrita was accepted into two schools to study with an emphasis on pharmacy! She has chosen to attend the AVM School. The Adarsha Vidya Mandir coeducational school is one of the oldest and largest schools in Nepal. It was established in 1966 in Manbhawan, Lalitpur, by educator Satya Narayan Bahadur Shrestha. It has won several awards for its excellent results in national level examinations held by the Higher Secondary Education Board of Nepal. In 2016, it celebrated its fifty year golden jubilee. 

Amrita made this decision because her cousin (her maternal uncle’s daughter) will also be attending the same college. Additionally, several of her old friends from school will be studying there, which influenced her decision. According to Subash, “I believe that studying together with familiar peers will enable them to support each other throughout their academic journey. Approximately a month ago, I visited AVM School during a boys’ futbal [soccer] competition. The school is well-located, a bit removed from the highways, providing a peaceful environment. The premises are securely enclosed, ensuring the students’ safety. I inquired about the academic programs from a senior teacher acquaintance, who informed me that the teaching faculty is experienced and highly qualified. Although he does not teach at AVM School, he is well-acquainted with the principal, which led me to believe that the school would be a good fit for Amrita.”

It sounds perfect and we are really excited for Amrita and her next chapter – congratulations, Amrita!

July 2024

Great news! Amrita passed her state exam with flying colors: 3.5 grade average! She’s super excited and so are we. She is applying to different colleges for the program in pharmacy, and we will see how she does on her entrance exams for those. But if these results are any indication, she’ll do fantastic and we’ll have results soon. Turn the sound up or put on headphones to hear her in the video. She speaks very quietly and very rapidly! But it’s clear she is very excited!

May 2024

Amrita has finished 10th grade and will be moving into her higher  years, what they call college or years 11 and 12 and what we might call community college. Subash says she plans to study pharmacy, which is fantastic; there is always need for more pharmacists. We can’t believe this is the little girl who wishfully watched the bus come and go with students when she couldn’t go to school. She is so grown up and moving forward. Her letter to us makes it clear that she is excited (and nervous) to move ahead. It is always scary moving to a new school and leaving your friends behind. That seems to be a standard human issue, whether it is Nepal or the US. We know she’ll do great, though. 

We’ll keep you updated on what she ends up doing and where she ends up going. And of course, we will support her as much as we can!

November 2023

Amrita is well into 10th grade, and she seems so happy. Subash says she is doing really well, and preparing for her state exam at the end of her school year. The results of this exam will determine where she can go for her next two years, and what she can study. Her recent letter to us sounds so optimistic and positive. She even refers to going to visit her family to try and heal some of the old wounds that essentially meant as a little girl she couldn’t live with them and had to come live at the school. Amrita has grown up so much from the little girl who watched the children go off to school every day with such longing. And we are so glad to have been here to help her!

July 2023

Amrita is entering 10th grade, her last year of regular school before she goes into the +2 part of the Nepali “10+2” school system. She sent us a sweet letter via our friend Jon, who visited the school in July and was able to meet three of the four girls. Jon said that it seems that all three students really enjoy the school and their studies, and they spoke highly of the teachers and the help they receive from them. It’s very good to hear that. From her letter, it certainly appears that Amrita is thriving!

October 2022

Amrita is in 9th grade now and according to Subash she is enjoying herself a lot. He says her grades are not quite as good as they were in grade 8 because the coursework is a little harder. So she has been enrolled in a morning “coaching” class (something like our tutoring). We hope this will help her feel confident in her harder studies.

They just had a break from school to celebrate Bijaya Dashami, and she sent us this lovely card. In addition, we got a video of her dancing in one of the celebrations. We challenge you to watch this video and not smile! Amrita is in the middle of the front row and it is still hard to us to reconcile the little girl we first helped go to school with this lovely young woman.

August 2022

We finally received Amrita’s final letter to us for the 2021-2022 school year, her 8th grade. We are hoping that there is a recording of the presentation she was part of for the exiting 10th grade students!

June 2022

According to our contact Subash, Amrita has taken her Basic Level Examination and she is working hard at school in grade 9. He says she is doing really well, and her spirits are very high. We are very glad to hear that she’s well, and enjoying school. We received a lovely card from her that talks a little about her days.

January 2022

Amrita sent a wonderful video and Christmas card to us at the beginning of the new year.

July 2021

Amrita did really well on her year end exams and has entered her next year of school. Her letter to us outlines some of the challenges of the pandemic, but she’s studying as hard as she can and working to move forward. Our contact Subash says that she attends every class eagerly and does her best. She says she is a little shy, but loves school and learning. We’re glad to hear that!

December, 2020

Amrita sent a wonderful Christmas card and letter to us. They have returned to school in person and are being very careful, with masks and face shields as well.

August, 2020

We received a wonderful video from Amrita, in which she talks a little about the challenges of studying online. All the students are still studying online and are under quarantine because of the virus. We’re so happy to know that they are all healthy and doing as well as they can.

January, 2020

Amrita sent the foundation a wonderful holiday card, which we had to post here because it’s so adorable. We also received a video of her wishing us a happy 2020 in English, which is also adorable. It’s just wonderful to see them (sort of) in person, since getting to Nepal is pretty hard and we have never met our girls there.

September, 2019

Amrita is doing well in school, and having lots of fun with special events and projects. The school had a science fair, and the students made art and science projects to show off to family and visitors. The school also had some celebrations to get ready for the national holiday of Dashain, which the whole country celebrates for two weeks.

April, 2019

Amrita finished the year with pretty good grades, and passed into sixth year! She and the other girls had fun with sports, music, crafts, and helping to build an outdoor playground for the school. We are very happy she has passed her year, and we are excited for her next year of school!

October, 2018

We received a wonderful card and photo of Amrita just after the celebration of Dashain, when the students were all out of school for two weeks. She’s doing well in school, with a 73.5 average. She can definitely do better, but overall we are very happy with her performance and her effort.

June, 2018

Amrita passed her fourth year, and is now starting fifth grade. We love her year end letter to us! We asked her about what makes her laugh, and also what are the qualities of a good teacher.

February, 2018

We received a midterm letter from Amrita, who is doing well in school and enjoying herself. We are so glad to hear this!

July, 2017

We received a year-end letter from Amrita and a couple of photos of her from our contact Subash. She seems to be doing well, and he says she loves being in school. We’re glad!

Amrita has settled into the boarding school and did well this past year. According to our contact Subash, it took her a little while to get used to being away from home, but she’s doing fine now. We are happy to hear that and happy that she will enter 4th level soon.