ROKPA Times November 2018 - With ROKPA to independence

NEPAL
Working despite physical impairment:
Kalpana (l.) training as a seamstress at the
ROKPA Vocational Training Center.
Starting an
independent life
32 deprived young people are presently being trained in hospitality
services at the new ROKPA Vocational Training Center.
There are three certificate programmes: “Food Production”,
“Service” and “Room Management”. A further 10 destitute
women are being trained as seamstresses. Anisha and Kalpana
are two of the students. Despite some cruel strokes of fate and
their physical impairment, these young women have decided to
take their destiny into their own hands. Education lays the
foundation for an independent life.
Anisha is 18 years old and is taking the one-year training course
in “Service”. She grew up in a village near Kathmandu where
she lived with her family. When she was a child, Anisha scalded
herself with hot water and she’s still suffering from the wounds
sustained in this incident. She lost her mother during the 2015
earthquake – an even more cruel stroke of fate. Fortunately,
Anisha was supported by CWIN, a Nepalese organization for
children’s rights. CWIN registered Anisha for the ROKPA
Hospitality Training. Anisha likes to read and with this training
wants to secure her own future.
Kalpana is 24 years old and is taking the six-month training
course as a seamstress. Her mother died when she was 7 years
old. This was a crushing blow for her as she felt especially loved
by her mother. She has two brothers who do not look after her.
Today, Kalpana lives in a home for people with disabilities and
she is happy to be able to train at the ROKPA Women’s Workshop.
She already has previous experience as a seamstress and
wants to learn more in order to be fit for the job market.
The School Administrator of
the ROKPA Hospitality
Vocational Training introduces
himself
Sanjaya Lal Shrestha (l.) teaching.
Photos: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL, Bijay Shrestha
My name is Sanjaya Lal Shresta and I am the School
Administrator of the ROKPA Hospitality Vocational Training.
I started my career at reception and in communication. In the
following years, I worked my way up to a managing position.
I decided to work for ROKPA because I want to work for a
good cause and support young people.
My work day starts with a smile from my students. I personally
greet each and every one of them because think it is
important that our students feel accepted. As I am responsible
for the operation of our Hospitality Training as well as for
the ROKPA Guest House, I have a tight schedule: I prepare
the timetables, I support our teachers and I also teach.
Furthermore, I deal with requests regarding the Guest House,
I am responsible for the school administration and coordinate
with our partner organisations such as the GATE College.
Our students are from financially vulnerable families. I take
all the time necessary to assist them with personal as well as
academic matters. I want these young people to be successful
so that they can help their families to have a decent life too.
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