By Tulsi Rauniyar | Staff Writer
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.
By Bruce Moore | Senior Director of Program
By Erica Stone | President
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