Her hobby grew into a profession. Nirmala KC went to study in India at 17, enrolled in a programme that took her to the US, and went on to study in Norway. In 2012, she completed her PhD on NGOs and accountability. She lives with her family in Kathmandu, devoting her life to the people of Nepal. Every weekend, friends and acquaintances invite her to dinner, she is a tireless traveller. It is a life, though, that has also come at a cost. She is married mainly to her profession, and she has no children, which is rare in Nepal.
Many turn up their noses when a woman my age is unmarried
The country remains dominated by traditional role models. ‘Many turn up their noses when a woman my age is unmarried,’ says Nirmala KC. Her case represents an exception, as she is able to earn an income for herself. Most women fare differently. Forced marriages still occur, and many women are dependent on their husbands – another reason why Pro Public helps women to launch their own small businesses so they can set up a local shop selling vegetables or handmade clothing.
This injustice is also addressed in Pro Public’s plays – to encourage many more courageous women to follow in the footsteps of Nirmala KC. A better example would be hard to find.
About the author
Nathanael Häfner is a financial editor at Zeit Online. He studied social sciences at the Cologne School of Journalism and has worked as a freelance journalist for Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz and Spiegel Online.
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About the zivik Funding Programme
The zivik Funding Programme supports civil society actors worldwide in preventing crises, transforming conflicts, and creating as well as stabilising peaceful social and political systems. With their commitment, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) complement state actors by providing significant perspectives and activities. The zivik Funding Programme is providing funding for international, national or local NGO projects, which are dealing with civil conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts.
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