Gender Equality Nepal Project #14845

Stop Girl Trafficking in Nepal

by American Himalayan Foundation

Project Report | May 12, 2025
Finding Her Voice: Gita's Story

By Debbie Cohen | Communications Manager

Gita turns to singing, and SGT, for comfort.

The harder life gets for 10-year-old Gita, the more she dreams about becoming a singer when she grows up. It’s a dream that has only gotten stronger since her father passed away.

Her mother remarried soon after and moved to live with her new husband, leaving Gita behind. She doesn’t know when — or if — she will see her mom again. Gita now lives in her aunt’s small, crowded home, separated from her brother, who is being raised by another relative far away.

Going to school is the one bright spot in Gita’s troubled life. With her family tragically torn apart, the grade 5 student takes comfort in the consistent support and stable routine of going to school every day, made possible by STOP Girl Trafficking (SGT).

SGT pays for school fees, supplies, and uniforms and provides mentorship for girls like Gita, who might otherwise drop out of school and fall prey to the dangers of trafficking, early marriage, and forced labor.

“If it wasn’t for SGT there’s no way I could afford to send Gita to school,” said her aunt. In her house live two daughters-in-law (both of her sons are away, one working in India, the other serving in the Nepalese army), a young grandson, and now, Gita. Though both sons send a little money back, it’s barely enough.

Fortunately, when things get tough, Gita knows she can turn to her Friday Teacher. Friday Teachers provide extra, more personal, tutoring and support to SGT students during special classes at the end of each week. They also act as role models for the girls, and most are SGT alums themselves.

Singing helps Gita to express herself and ease the pain of losing her immediate family. One song she wrote in the form of a letter to her parents speaks of her longing for them with such heartfelt lines as: “Mom cries in secret, thinking of you,” and “Dad, she remembers you, and so I do too.”

Despite everything Gita’s been through in her young life, she still finds her voice — through songs, Friday classes, making friends with the other girls, and sharing her hopes and dreams.

Because of your support, Gita and the other girls in the SGT program are not just surviving difficult circumstances; they are pushing back against them by staying in school, supporting one another, and building better futures.

On behalf of the 10,000 at-risk girls in SGT, thank you for making this life-changing work possible!

(All names have been changed for privacy and images are representative.)

To learn more about our work and the SGT Program please visit the links below:

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Jan 9, 2025
Sherpa Sisters: Safely Home, and in School

By Debbie Cohen | Communications Manager

A struggling family gets a new chance.

Sindhupalchowk, Nepal, is a hard place to call home.

It is a poor agricultural district, notorious for human trafficking, especially of girls … girls like Esha, a middle child, who was sent away to Kuwait to work to help support her struggling family.

At first, she was able to send a small amount of money home to help her parents and two sisters. Soon, however, the money stopped coming and her phone calls became increasingly short and strained. She was being abused, trapped by a landlord who had thrown away her passport.

Back home, her distraught mother committed suicide, and her father turned to alcohol. Knowing the risks but desperate for money, he considered sending his youngest daughter, Gita, away to “work” in India.

So, Meera, his eldest daughter, took matters into her own hands and stopped him from selling another of her sisters into slavery.

Meera knew that out of all her siblings she was the lucky one; she was enrolled in STOP Girl Trafficking (SGT). So, she approached her SGT field officer, begging for help. She was very relieved when the officer met with her father and convinced him to enroll Gita in school instead of sending her away to a dark fate.

In the end, it was Meera’s father who left in search of work. But, although the girls were left to care for themselves, they were protected. With help from SGT, they were kept in school, safe from predators, and encouraged by the network of caring alums and teachers in their village.

After her father left, Meera approached her SGT field officer again with another desperate request — to help bring Esha home. Now, all three sisters are safely together again!

Their father has even started sending money to them. Without SGT, Meera fears she would have lost both of her younger sisters to trafficking. Today, all three girls have hope, for an education and a brighter future.

On behalf of the three sisters, and 10,000 similarly at-risk girls attending 480 schools across Nepal, thank you for making this life-changing work possible.

(All names have been changed for privacy and images are representative.)

To learn more about our work and the SGT Program please visit the links below:

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Sep 16, 2024
A Journey of Perseverance

By Tulsi Rauniyar | Staff Writer

Some of the 10k girls who are in school with SGT

Twin sisters Baijanthi* and Izna, now age 16, had a difficult start to life. Their father abandoned the family when they were little. After that, their mother struggled to make ends meet. By the first grade, the girls were close to dropping out of school to join their mother working as laborers.

Their plight caught the attention of a compassionate schoolteacher, who reached out to the STOP Girl Trafficking (SGT) team for assistance. Baijanthi and Izna were swiftly enrolled in the SGT program, averting the looming threat of dropout and all the consequences it would have on their young lives.

“SGT came as a blessing to us, and we were able to continue our education,” proclaimed Baijanthi. Izna echoed her sentiments, “If we were not supported, we would have become victims of child marriage or child labor.”

Baijanthi and Izna were enthusiastic about their studies and the special classes for SGT students, building strong friendships, delving into various social issues, and finding joy in sports like volleyball. Despite adversity, they excelled academically through graduation and are currently enrolled in junior college, both majoring in English. Inspired by their own journey, the girls aspire to become government schoolteachers so they can help other underprivileged youth.

With the rough start they had in life, the sisters could have easily fallen victim to trafficking, exploited and abused through forced labor or child marriage. Instead, thanks to SGT, they are safe and shaping a better future for themselves and their community.

On behalf of Baijanthi, Izna, and the 10,000 other girls across Nepal who are currently enrolled in STOP Girl Trafficking, thank you for making this life-saving work possible.

*All names have been changed for privacy and images are representative.

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