It’s always stunning how much historical events can shape a nation and how the cultural values that are either eliminated or brought forth in the wake of such events shape everything, down to the very situation that I find myself living in. The history of Nepal has defined the stories I haven’t even heard and was requested to not even ask.
Some results of a national past bearing the culture of war and dynastic power struggles has been a desire for the provocative and a lack of value given to young girls. Most girls are simply viewed as another man’s property to be claimed in future marriage; essentially, they are not considered part of the family. If women are merely a commodity to be traded in future marriages, why bother to make an investment in them as they grow up? Why strive to give them an education? Why care to build a relationship?
This is the kind of thinking that shapes an entire nation. The formerly trafficked women that now live at Asha Nepal have certainly felt the repercussions of that kind of thinking. Additionally, somewhere along the line, the kids here had a moment where their parents dipped out (which we witnessed for one girl this past week), while others went through the tragedy of losing a parent in the decade-long civil war only to end up orphaned and at risk for trafficking. As I write these things, I can’t help but think that these are the kinds of stories you only hear about, and yet here I am living in the middle of it. At Asha Nepal I eat with orphaned kids and chat and worship with women who were rescued from the brothels of Mumbai.
Asha Nepal has been through it but this place keeps pushing forward to change this kind of thinking and put and end to the pattern of trafficking. To get the word out, the glory of my service for the past 2 ½ weeks has been developing promotional designs and a video depicting life at Nepal and what God is doing here. Feel free to download the flyer and use the video to get the word out about Asha Nepal!
If you are interested in connecting with Asha Nepal to support the women through re-selling their products in the United States, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.ashanepal.org.
