Bridging Dream and Reality: Nepal Youth Employment Transformation Initiative

Commitment to Making Dream a Reality

Usha Bhujel lives in Rainas Municipality in Lamjung of Gandaki Province. Originally from Gorkha, Usha used to live with her father and stepmother before moving with her husband to Lamjung after marriage. 

Married at 19 and Usha worked in agriculture, helping grow seasonal vegetables and other crops in her family's land. Her husband worked in Malaysia and Dubai as a security guard. He returned after the COVID-19 pandemic posed health risks to him. 

Both Usha and her husband joined the temporary employment program supported by the Youth Employment Transformation Initiative (YETI) Project in 2021. Under the program, Usha works with her group of five coworkers (three women and two men). They recently completed construction of a Chautari, a village square that serves as a rest stop and gathering place for the community. 

Together, Usha and her husband earns around Rs 600 (about $5.8) each per day. Since they need to support their family of five, the earnings aren't sufficient. They grow seasonal vegetables in a small garden in front of their home and occasionally work as agricultural laborers. Despite the challenges, Usha is determined to provide her daughter with a good education. She also has a dream of owning a small restaurant someday.

She says, “If I save enough money from this program, I will make this dream a reality.”

Prioritizing the Education of Daughters

Kalpana Mijar is a 34-year-old woman from Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot in Bagmati Province, Nepal. Her husband used to work as a laborer in Malaysia but had to return to Nepal in 2012 due to poor working conditions and respiratory ailment. 

As he returned without any substantial savings, Kalpana has been bearing most of the financial responsibilities of the family. 

She worked as an agricultural laborer and in various jobs taking care of her husband and paying for the education of her three daughters.

Kalpana says, “I had to drop out of school due to financial difficulties after my father's death. It’s my greatest regret.  I don't want my daughter to suffer the same way.” She wants her daughters to be educated and independent and has been looking for stable means of income to fulfill the wish.

Kalpana has been employed under temporary Employment Program supported by Youth Employment Transformation Initiative (YETI) since 2021. She is part of a group of four who take turns in maintaining parks and gardens in Trishuli. 

Kalpana is grateful for the work the temporary employment program has provided but acknowledges the challenges of supporting a family on a single income. Nevertheless, she is doing her best to provide good education to her daughters “While the program provides a source of income, it is difficult to manage the household expenses and pay off the loans,” she laments.