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Miss Sita Basnet is 25 years old and lives in Ward No. 1 of Guthichour Rural Municipality in Jumla. She is a strong and inspiring young woman who didn’t give up, even when life was very difficult. Today, she works as a Community Mobiliser with INF Nepal Jumla and is helping others in her community.
Sita’s family includes her mother, four brothers, and three sisters. Sadly, her father passed away when she was just 18. Her brothers now live separately with their own families, and her two older sisters are married. She lives with her 70-year-old mother and her younger sister, who is studying in Class 10 at a local school.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. When she was only nine months old, she had a fire accident and lost the toes on both her feet. This made it hard for her to walk quickly. People treated her differently because of her disability, and her family was also very poor. They survived through traditional farming, but it was never enough.
Despite many problems, Sita completed her +2 education. About three years ago, she joined a local disability group formed by INF Nepal Jumla with support from CBM Global. She took part in different training and workshops, including leadership training and information about disability rights. These sessions helped her grow in confidence and learn new skills.
After the project ended, she wanted to continue her education, but her family’s financial problems made it impossible. She had to take care of the household and her elderly mother.
In July, INF Nepal started a new project called ENABLE, supported by INF Australia. When INF Jumla announced a job opening for a Community Mobiliser, Sita applied. Out of 12 people, she was selected. She says that moment changed her life.
Because of how people looked at her as a person with disability, she sometimes felt hopeless. She even thought about ending her life. But when she got the job, she couldn’t believe it. It gave her a new reason to live and made her feel hopeful again.
Now, Sita earns a good amount of money each month, which helps her run the household. But more than the money, the job has brought big changes to how people see her. She now leads eight self-help groups (SHGs) in Guthichour. She meets with them each month and supports others who face similar challenges.
These meetings have helped her feel more confident and hopeful about her future. Now the community respects her and trusts her as a leader, both in the groups and in INF Jumla.
Sita is very thankful to INF Nepal Jumla for this opportunity. She is working with dedication and wants to continue helping her community.
Her story shows that with support, trust, and the right chance, anyone can overcome hardship and create change. Not just for themselves, but for many others too.
Note: Name has been changed to protect privacy.