Nepal - Sayni Chaudhary - 1995 Graduate
by Sayni Chaudhary and Maya Chaudhary
DIDI GHAR – Sister Home
page developed by Ann Collet, ARI Graduate Outreach Volunteer
submitted June 2024
The Bold Mayor of Tulsipur City
https://gyazo.com/6465543ce85b76cf03cae0d84cf2248f
'Sayni Chaudhary - Deputy Chief of Tulsipur'
Sayni is a member of the Tharu Community in Nepal, the founder of the Sister Home (school and orphanage), and deputy mayor of Tulsipur City. Her journey takes us around the world from Tulsipur City, to Japan, to Denmark, New York, and the Philippines. It tells the story of a bold and smart lady who humbly serves her community and leads it toward a brighter future.
Sayni's Childhood
When Sayni was born in 1972, girls of her community were not able to go to school. Women's education was seen as a waste. So, Sayni dressed up as a boy to be able to attend classes. At age 7, she would gather other girls from the community to share what she had learned that day. Already at this young age, she fought for the value of women's education to be recognized.
"I was happy when my family called me son."
- Sayni Chaudhary
https://gyazo.com/90e6cd2ce240011598c6bee5cdae793b
Sayni works tirelessly for the rights of Tharu women and all women.
To attend secondary education, Sayni walked for over four hours daily to reach the classroom. She was the only student, and at home she was still expected to complete all of her household duties. Defying all obstacles, she was the first girl in her community to gain a school leaving certificate. She would not be the last.
The Kamaiya Bonded Labor System
In Nepal, Kamaiya and Kamalary are an exploitative custom by which children were sent away from their families to work in the households of rich families. This was done to pay off accumulated, and often never-ending, debts. The children of the indigenous Tharu, Sayni's community, were the most effected victims of this practice. Boys were known as Kamaiya and girls were called Kamalary. Girls were commonly sent to do housework, or were married off at a young age, instead of going to school. Although slavery had been abolished by the government, this bonded labor system continued in poor communities.
At the time of Sayni's graduation from secondary school, the Backward Society Education organization (BASE) led a project to abolish the Kamalary practice. Sayni joined the project and worked in six different districts of BASE. Thanks to this work, the custom has ended, and girls can get an education and even go to college.
https://gyazo.com/fcd24d8af11d477a25f00a532e150069
Sayni with one of the children of Sister Home
ARI Community Leadership and Sister Home
In her early twenties, Sayni joined ARI as a participant. After her graduation, she worked for Save the Children, then later returned to ARI as a Training Assistant in 2002. She decided to found her own organization, DIDI GHAR, or Sister Home. It has been operating since 2004.
Sayni chose on the name Sister Home, purposely not calling it a school. This way, when girls were asked where they were going, they could say, "I'm going to my Sister's Home" and avoid possible confrontations with neighbors about going to school.
Sister Home is an organization that provides educational materials to support economically disadvantaged children for their studies. The program at Sister Home provides a stable environment for these children. They assist in the Home’s organic farm, receive clean clothes and uniforms, and study courses such as reading and writing, English, and mathematics. In addition, inspired by ARI’s Koinonia dining hall, all children and staff sit together and eat lunch. Sister Home also conducts leadership management training, akin to ARI's Rural Leader Program.
https://gyazo.com/4a07ddf2acebd80f57a4c01526bf32f6 https://gyazo.com/54b8ee34ff71fb2f447125d36c49c1df
Didi Ghar (Sister Home), with Sayni seated on the right / Sister Home's resident goats
When journalists ask about her work and why she does it, she talks about her life at ARI and the transformations she experienced. Before she started Sister Home, people were very doubtful. They questioned the value there could be in educating children who live on the streets. They thought of them as violent, stupid, and useless.
"These children are no good! Why are you keeping them?"
- Neighbors of Sister Home
Sayni proved that these kids can be transformed. With time, the orphans and homeless children become healthy, energetic, and respected members of the community. They dream of becoming nurses, social workers, and doctors. They see a future for themselves. Now, neighbors can see their intelligence, and they are also changing their minds about the value of educating women and girls.
https://gyazo.com/47738c22efd8ccc2819bbe0949e5f586 https://gyazo.com/910097692e2a445b400cadb7136b30cf
The girls at Sister Home with a set of new clothes / Children in thier nice uniforms
In 2022, there were around 30 children and youth living, cooking, and eating at Sister Home. Among them, 10 boys, 12 girls, and 5 college-aged girls. The college girls help at the Sister Home school. Rooms are more expensive than college fees in Tulsipur, so Sister Home provides them with food and shelter in return for their support. Even now, there is still discrimination against women going to school and girls often do not know how to read or write. However, they can learn. They are hard-working and dedicated. Under Sayni's guardianship, Sister Home gives them an opportunity to use their talents to pursue an education.
"Girls can do great work if they are given equal rights and opportunities."
- Local magazine article by Maya Chaudhary
https://gyazo.com/4586794b9c0c515d9fab8ea5f62e8623
Women from a sewing class organized by Sister Home
Sayni is assisted by three staff members, the college girls mentioned above, and nine board members. The board members, a nurse, a swimming teacher, a seamstress, and others who can teach English, all help with the work at Sister Home. They also learn about organic farming and grow food for their own consumption at Sister Home. There is no organic food in the city. Sayni teaches the importance of organic, healthy food, to improve the lives of her community - values she learned at ARI. Children help with vegetable planting and also keep chickens and pigs. In the future, she would like to increase the number of children that can be hosted.
Women in Leadership - Sayni becomes the Deputy Mayor
In recognition of her continued efforts, Sayni was elected Deputy Mayor of Tulsipur in 2022. She won the election with a 10,000-vote margin. Sayni uses her knowledge and experience from travelling abroad and attending programs on democracy and women, quality education, peace building, and development. In addition to her studies at ARI in Japan she has attended conferences and programs in New York, Sri Lanka, Denmark, the Philippines, Pakistan, and other countries.
https://gyazo.com/1b8a07b5666f597baa4d41d33c85ada4
Sayni at the United Nations in New York
Her policies include better protections for women who have become victims, so their voices are heard by the government. Under her guidance, the local government staff were taught to cooperate and treat one another with respect. She cut all unnecessary expenses from the Mayor's office and introduced programs to teach women about managing their finances, maintaining an income, and general life skills. This empowers them and improves the local economy. Her government also successfully collaborates with local organizations. Thanks to their combined effort, homeless people in the city could be provided with food and shelter. Every worker and officer in her government has to work for 8 hours per day.
“Quality, Quick, Clean and Clear Work"
- Slogan of Sayni's team
As Deputy Mayor, she is now able to help thousands of children in Tulsipur Metropolitan City and the surrounding rural areas. They are given clean clothes, medical care, and scholarships. Sayni uses her own salary to support children who otherwise could not attend school. With her help, orphans are now able to obtain quality education at the secondary school level.
https://gyazo.com/41b82bfc101e9f83bbfba5005087a23c
Sayni taking a rare break
The government has been and still is supporting Sayni's work at Sister Home and in her office. They know the value of her education and her work for the community. She will even tell you this herself, "I went to Japan. I studied at ARI. I learned a lot of things. I am very smart and beautiful."
Sayni is setting a courageous and proud example for her community for what the daughters of Nepal can become.
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