Bharosha Gautam

Bharosha was introduced to us by a teacher at her school, a man named Subash Shrestha. We met Subash in a kind of roundabout way. First there was C.J. Hayden, who runs a website called “Send Girls to School.” It sounded like it was right up our alley, so Christa introduced herself to C.J. She put us in touch with Rob Rose, who runs TRIFC—The Rose International Fund for Children—which helps children with disabilities in Nepal. Robert introduced us to Subash in Nepal. Here’s what Robert said about Subash: “I can vouch for [Subash] who can help oversee the education of these two kids. Subash Shrestha is a teacher at a local school and also helps us with our food/nutritional support for a group of blind children at Sanjiwani School in Dhulikhel (about 30 minutes from Kathmandu).  He is also past president of the Dhulikhel Rotaract Club (a younger version of the Rotary Club) and is overseeing a renovation of the hostel accommodations for the blind students at the Sanjiwani School with financial support from TRIFC.” We were in contact with Subash for several months, and we decided to award scholarships to two girls from his town who really need it.

Bharosha lives in Dhulikhel, a beautiful town about 30 miles to the east of Kathmandu. Her town is a tourist destination, due to the beautiful views of the Himlayas. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, her town suffers its fair share of the ailments that go along with poverty: poor education, alcoholism, high birth rates and high unemployment.

Bharosha is cared for by her grandparents because her father doesn’t pay any attention to the family and her mother has a mental illness. Her grandparents are very old and can’t work to help send her to school. Subash tells us that she is a “very good and loving child and a good student.” When asked what she wants to be, she said with a big smile that she wants to be a doctor. We hope she’ll make it there, or somewhere she loves!

November 2023

Bharosha is almost done with high school! By April of 2024, she will be applying to get into the university, which is so exciting. We can’t believe how much she has grown up. It literally seems like about three years ago that she was a tiny little girl – it was 12 years ago that we met her and started with her on her journey! We can’t wait to see what happens next!

November/December 2022

Subash tells us that Bharosha is settling in to her school for Grade 11, and she is spending most of her time in her studies. He talked with her a little while ago and she told him that her college days are very different from her school days. It is very hard to adjust to a completely new environment, and we know her studies are a lot harder, but we all have no doubt she will do well. She is a very smart, and very hardworking and dedicated young woman. She isn’t doing as well as she’d like, but we have no doubt that will change as she accustoms herself to a higher level of study.

August 2022

We received news that Bharosha did very well on her national exam! She did well enough to be considered for medical sciences. She joined a Bridge course after her national exam for the preparation of science and she wants to study for a Bachelor’s in nursing science. For two years she will be enrolled in science faculty program and then after her 12th grade, she needs to choose a specific course at the university level to join the nursing program.

She has been accepted to a college at Baylor, which is located at Banepa, about 5 km from Dhulikhel. Subash says that it is one of the good colleges in the town and provides “lab facilities, as well as  a library, bus, canteen, educational visits and much more.” We are so excited for her. When she was a little girl, she said she wanted to be a doctor or a teacher. So now she is moving ahead with that dream!

June 2022

We missed a lot of news about Bharosha from the 2021-2022 school year, due to the pandemic and the fact that our contact was really busy, and becoming a father! But we did receive a Christmas card from Bharosha, and we’ve included that in this year’s update.

Bharosha finished 10th grade earlier this year (the 2021-2022 school year) and has taken her state exam. We are waiting to find out how she did and where she will go next. She’s consistently been a great student, so we feel pretty positive that she will do very well, and be able to have several choices about what she wants to study next and where. She has grown into such a beautiful young woman; we look back on the pictures of her 10 years ago and it’s hard to believe how grown up she is.

June 2021

Bharosha did very well on her final exams, coming out 5th of 24 students. She moves on to Class 10, which is her last year of official high school. She’s excited and nervous all at once, which is understandable. Her year-end letter to us is very sweet. They were back in lockdown at the time of the letter, but she says it’s easier this time than last year, since they all know how to deal with it. We are glad to hear that and hope they get back to class soon!

December, 2020

Bharosha is doing as well as can be expected in school when one is studying online and not at all used to it. She sent us a sweet Christmas card and a letter about school. They are back in school, and wearing masks and face shields for protection.

August, 2020

We received a wonderful video from Bharosha, in which she talks a little about the challenges of studying online. All the students are still studying online and are under quarantine because of the virus. We’re so happy to know that they are all healthy and doing as well as they can.

January, 2020

We received an adorable holiday card from Bharosha, which we had to show you. She clearly put a lot of effort into it!

September, 2019

Bharosha continues to excel in school, and is really enjoying her school activities. Recently, the school prepared for the two-week national celebration of Dashain, and Bharosha was involved in making a collage with Roshani for the holiday. She also participated in a science fair, where she made a water wheel for exhibit.

In the video below, Bharosha’s water wheel is towards the end. The teacher sounds very impressed with her exhibit!

April, 2019

As ever, Bharosha ended her year with great grades, and passed easily to her next year. She had a big year, with sports, music, crafts, and a new baby sister!

Bharosha also participated in shot put during Sports Day. She looks like she’s got quite a good arm! Bharosha is the second to throw, after Roshani. (Video Below)

October 2018

Bharosha just keeps getting more and more grown up! She’s now in 7th grade and is 13 years old. When she started with ONE, she was 7! It’s been wonderful to watch her grow up over the years. Her performance in school is still consistently high, although she has dropped a little in her grades. She is loving her dance classes, and appears to be thriving, which we are so happy to see.

June, 2018

Bharosha did well this year and passed into seventh grade. We love her year end letter to us! We asked her about what makes her laugh, to tell us a story, and also what are the qualities of a good teacher. She told us a wonderful story that has a great environmental message.

February, 2018

We hear from Subash that Bharosha is doing very well and excelling in school. We received her midterm letter and enjoyed it a lot.

July, 2017

Bharosha sent us a year-end letter and we also received a great photo of her with her mother, who came to visit her at school. It’s amazing to see how fast she is growing up!

May 2017

Bharosha did well in school this past year, and is growing into a lovely young woman. We hardly recognize her from the little girl that joined us several years ago. She will enter sixth level soon, and we are excited to hear how she enjoys it.

July 2016

Bharosha is, as usual, near the top of her class for the end of her year. Subash says she is thriving, and we are very happy to hear this! She moves on to her next grade with flying colors, congratulations, Bharosha!

July 2015

The 2014-2015 school year ended on an incredible note for sweet Bharosha, who got a 91% in her marks! She and the other girls sat and wrote a group letter which was translated by some of the older students. Everyone is as much back to “normal” as possible after the devastating earthquake, and school is obviously some place that Bharosha loves to be.

January 2016

Bharosha is growing up so fast! She is beginning to look like a young lady now. Her mid-year report card was very good. She consistently does very well in her classes and is clearly a serious student. Our contact Subash sent us some wonderful photos of her and Roshani, as well as their letters to us for the middle of the year. Bharosha’s English isn’t quite this good yet; she and Roshani get help from some older students to write what they want to say.

June 2014

We received a sweet card from Bharosha, who it looks like is learning some English. We still have to find out what “mulberry” is!

October 2014

Although we received this letter in 2015 it is really a mid-year card from last year. Bharosha was 5th in her class at the middle of the year, and we are so happy for her and proud of her efforts. Way to go, Bharosha!

October 2013

Christa’s friends Val and Gary from England went to Nepal on holiday in October 2013. They had an extra day and were able to visit Bharosha and Subash at the school, despite the fact that school was out for a month for the big holiday of the year. Roshani was not available, but Gary and Val were able to meet and visit with Bharosha, whom they said is “very sweet and very shy.” Gary also said that Subash is a “mean table tennis player!” Here are some photos of Bharosha and the school from their visit.

December 2012

Some friends of Christa’s went to Nepal to go trekking in December of 2012, and they were kind enough to visit the school and meet Subash, Bharosha and Swostika and take some wonderful pictures of them. Thanks to Bart, Cynde and Patrick for visiting them and to Bart for sending us these photos!