When Knowledge meets Curiosity: An Experience during Workshop
BY: ASHWIN It was a completely new experience for me to facilitate a workshop on menstruation hygiene for Grade 7 students and to witness their energy, curiosity, and openness throughout the session. I went in thinking I would mostly be teaching, but I came out realizing how much I was also going to learn. We […]
When One Practice Defines a Whole Province
BY: ASHWIN When people in Kathmandu hear “Sudurpaschim”, the first thing that comes to mind is Chhaupadi Pratha and chaugoth. The people, the religion, the culture, the Deuda dance, and the natural beauty come second, if they come up at all. If someone asked me what Sudurpaschim is famous for, I would not say chaugoth […]
An Open Letter to My Phone
BY: ASHWIN Dear Phone, We’ve been together for years now. Our bond is longer than most friendships, healthier than some relationships and it is much more committed than my gym membership. You’ve always silently watched me laugh, weep, panic, delay the most urgent tasks, telling myself that opening Instagram was part of studying. Most of […]
To be Found, you must be Lost first
BY: ANUSHA Somewhere, social interaction died the day I became more concerned with getting likes on my Instagram posts than being captivated by the aura of those around me. Playful childhood faded the day I chose scrolling through endless TikToks instead of stepping outside, falling, and returning home with bruises that meant I had lived. […]
Met My Younger Self Today
BY: ANUSHA Today, I met my younger self at tea. She sat across from me in her school uniform, bright-eyed and unbothered in the way only children can be. There was still a little mess in her hair, a little innocence in her face, and a kind of confidence that adulthood sometimes quietly steals away. […]
Behind Closed Door: A story of SRHR and Stigma
BY: AMLESH Sita was 18 when she first wanted to learn about the contraception. It wasn’t because she planned to get married or soon have children. She was simply curious and wanted to understand her body. But in her village, talking about topics like menstruation, relationships or family planning was often met with awkward silence […]
He Said Goodbye!
BY: RONITA There are some goodbyes that stay with you forever. This is one of mine. The day before I was leaving for Kathmandu, my closest friend, P, and I decided to spend one day together. But the weather decided not to be on our side. Just as she arrived at my house, dark clouds gathered overhead. We didn’t let that stop us. […]
The Best Trek Was Never About the Destination
BY: RONITA The trek that reminded me that the best adventures are the ones shared. I’ve always felt at home in the mountains. Maybe it’s the crisp air, the endless greenery, the sound of rivers flowing through the valleys, or simply the peace that only nature can offer. Whenever life becomes overwhelming, I find myself looking for […]
When Period Pain Took Over My Day—and Taught Me to Listen to My Body
BY: RONITA I still remember the early days of my period. It would arrive quietly—no cramps, no pain, just a whisper of change in my body. While my friends carried painkillers and hot water bags, I used to think I was lucky. I watched them struggle through classes, sometimes needing two pills just to stay upright, […]
When My First Period Broke the Taboo Before I Could
BY: RONITA I was around 13 when I got my first period—a moment every girl anticipates with a mix of curiosity, anxiety, and quiet fear. But in my community, it wasn’t just a physical change; it came wrapped in layers of stigma and old rules. I had heard the stories: once you get your period, you cannot see the […]