„Girl Rising“ Film Tells Story of Suma and NYF

All over the world, people are gathering to watch the new film Girl Rising — which features a segment about Suma, one of the Nepal Youth Foundation’s success stories.

The film tells the stories of nine remarkable young women and their fight for an education — including Suma, whose tale is similar to thousands of young girls NYF has freed from indentured servitude.

When Suma was only nine years old, extreme poverty forced her family to „sell“ her labor to their landlord as part of a sharecropping arrangement. For years, Suma slept in a goat shed and ate scraps from her master’s plate, spending long days and nights doing housework and chores.

In 2007, after six years of servitude, Suma was rescued by Sita Tharu, an NYF staff member. Since then, NYF has provided Suma with variety of services to help her build a new life. She attended school and is now enrolled in a Medical Assistant training course as part of NYF’s Vocational Education and Career Counseling Program. We also provided Suma with leadership training, which she uses in her work with the Freed Kamlaris Development Forum. Suma has also been trained as a peer counselor to help girls like herself overcome the trauma and grief in their lives.

Suma has grown to be a strong and confident young woman. She was selected to represent the women of Nepal at the prestigious Women in the World Summit in New York, organized in 2012 by Newsweek and the Daily Beast. Through her song, Suma has let the world know the plight of thousands of girls trapped in slavery and their struggle for freedom and a life of dignity.

Help spread Suma’s message. Be sure to tell your friends and family about Girl Rising.