“Who wouldn't want to go to school if they could? My family didn't have enough money, so they couldn't send me. Instead, they arranged for me to work in a rich family's house, promising they'd send me to school . Even though I really wanted to learn, it was hard to keep up with my schoolwork because I had to work a lot at home. The family didn't care about my education, which made it tough to focus on studying. Eventually, I realized I wasn't getting anywhere just working, so I decided to leave and go back home to help my parents.

When I got my first period, I was scared and confused. I went to my mom for help, and she told me it's a normal part of being a girl. She also warned me to be careful around boys. I used to be shy around boys because of her advice, but looking back now, I find it kind of funny. Girls have to deal with a lot of rules and expectations from society. When they reach puberty, there's a lot of pressure to get married, because people talk a lot and it's what everyone expects. I ended up getting married too, partly to avoid people talking about me. Now, with two sons, I'm happy with my family life and all the good things it brings.” - Sangita Chepang, Chitwan