The unshakeable reed – courage of a Nepalese girl

This year, Yashmeetha Lama, the second eldest daughter in her family, turned 16. Her parents continually hoped for a boy but instead gave birth to five daughters. With many mouths to feed and little income, Yasimeilama’s father went to work in India when she was just four years old, sending money home so that she could attend school; however, her father’s income alone is not enough to cover the whole family’s expenses. Fortunately, since 2003, Yasimeilama has been part of the International Cultural Educational Foundation’s “Nepal Study Assistance Program,” which provides her school fees each month.

Yasimeilama said that although she’s a girl, she still has many dreams. She hopes to be like everyone else and study a great subject like medicine, engineering or aviation. In spite of the fact she has been on the receiving end of sexual discrimination, Yasimeilama is determined to change her fortunes through hard work. 

以下為中英文對照

壓不倒的蘆葦-勇敢的尼泊爾女孩

家中排行老二的雅斯美塔拉瑪今年16歲，父母一直期待有個男丁，但卻生了五個女孩。家裡人口多收入低，她四歲大時，父親就離家去印度找工作，父親偶而從印度寄錢回來，孩子們才有辦法去學校讀書。但是父親一個人的收入無法支應全家開銷，幸好從2003年開始，來自台灣的環宇基金會展開「尼泊爾助學金計畫」，每個月補助雅斯美塔拉瑪上學費用。

   雅斯美塔拉瑪說，雖然我是一個女生，但我的人生中仍然有許多夢想。也想和其他人一樣，學習一些很棒的科目，例如醫學、工程和航空等，雖然身為女性在尼泊爾備受歧視，但也希望透過自己的努力改變命運。