Senior Project Reflection
This was an incredibly brave project to present to a group of giddy seniors that want to be done with school. It was not only brave, but also important. As I was becoming familiar with this project I was worried about my efforts into making it something I’m proud of. I wasn’t preoccupied with my level of interest in the project but my capability of pulling it off and it being well written and beautiful. After a lot of research and diligent work, my paper turned out to be a piece of work that I am proud of.
As it is, I have a hard time articulating my thoughts on paper and even out loud. Because of this, I was worried about writing an organized, thoughtful 14 page paper. Throughout the critiquing and time I had to learn to develop my thoughts and be able to include my opinion and fact at the same time. This was a struggle but felt good to finally grasp. My paper is about a very troubling issue in the world that I believe to be important to process and think about.
Sex trafficking is an incredibly pressing issue in today’s world but especially Nepal. Not only has it become culturally and socially accepted but there is also a huge demand for it. If people are educated and aware, they will want to fight for women’s rights. Awareness around the world will help these women break the mold of their countries and become educated and empowered through economic opportunities. I am proud that I wrote a paper on such a tragic issue and am spreading my own knowledge about how I think it should be stopped.
As it is, I have a hard time articulating my thoughts on paper and even out loud. Because of this, I was worried about writing an organized, thoughtful 14 page paper. Throughout the critiquing and time I had to learn to develop my thoughts and be able to include my opinion and fact at the same time. This was a struggle but felt good to finally grasp. My paper is about a very troubling issue in the world that I believe to be important to process and think about.
Sex trafficking is an incredibly pressing issue in today’s world but especially Nepal. Not only has it become culturally and socially accepted but there is also a huge demand for it. If people are educated and aware, they will want to fight for women’s rights. Awareness around the world will help these women break the mold of their countries and become educated and empowered through economic opportunities. I am proud that I wrote a paper on such a tragic issue and am spreading my own knowledge about how I think it should be stopped.
To what extent can sex trafficking in Nepal be reduced by increasing access to education and economic opportunity?
Cora Kilgo
Senior Project Advisor: Ashley Carruth
Tamang was born into a family with a blind mother and an ailing father that died when she was three. At the age of ten, her aunt, Laxmi, visited the village and was ‘astonished’ at how hard her niece was working. Laxmi assured Tamang’s family that she could earn much higher wages in Kathmandu. With excitement for a better future, Tamang went with her aunt to Kathmandu. Tamang said, “But my aunt tricked me, she sold me into a brothel in India. I trusted her blindly thinking she is my kith and kin, but she ruined my life by selling me there.” Tamang was left with an older women addressed with the name, Didi, the traditional name for an older sister. The Didi told her that she had been sold there and now she needed to pay her back. The reality of Tamang’s life was becoming clear, she was ten years old, alone, and living far away from the comfort of her home.
The higher floors were made up of small dark rooms with five or six beds separated by curtains. Tamang cried for her first days there and tried to escape but was unsuccessful. When she was caught, the Didi beat her and locked in her a room without food for days. After numerous attempts to escape and get caught, Tamang finally relinquished herself to this new life. From then on, her duty was to please and do as her customers told her. Tamang said, “I had to have sex with as many as 40 men some days. Sometimes after going to the toilet to urinate, I didn’t even get the time to put my undergarments back on before the next client entered my room.”
Tamang lived and worked at the Purana Welcome for just over four years. She was rescued when a team of Maiti Nepal investigators launched a rescue operation in several brothels in Pune. Tamang was one of the lucky ones. Twenty girls were rescued from brothels and brought back to Nepal. These girls were provided with counseling, shelters, and employment (Bhattarai 5).
This is a heartbreaking reality for many young women in Nepal.
Cora Kilgo
Senior Project Advisor: Ashley Carruth
Tamang was born into a family with a blind mother and an ailing father that died when she was three. At the age of ten, her aunt, Laxmi, visited the village and was ‘astonished’ at how hard her niece was working. Laxmi assured Tamang’s family that she could earn much higher wages in Kathmandu. With excitement for a better future, Tamang went with her aunt to Kathmandu. Tamang said, “But my aunt tricked me, she sold me into a brothel in India. I trusted her blindly thinking she is my kith and kin, but she ruined my life by selling me there.” Tamang was left with an older women addressed with the name, Didi, the traditional name for an older sister. The Didi told her that she had been sold there and now she needed to pay her back. The reality of Tamang’s life was becoming clear, she was ten years old, alone, and living far away from the comfort of her home.
The higher floors were made up of small dark rooms with five or six beds separated by curtains. Tamang cried for her first days there and tried to escape but was unsuccessful. When she was caught, the Didi beat her and locked in her a room without food for days. After numerous attempts to escape and get caught, Tamang finally relinquished herself to this new life. From then on, her duty was to please and do as her customers told her. Tamang said, “I had to have sex with as many as 40 men some days. Sometimes after going to the toilet to urinate, I didn’t even get the time to put my undergarments back on before the next client entered my room.”
Tamang lived and worked at the Purana Welcome for just over four years. She was rescued when a team of Maiti Nepal investigators launched a rescue operation in several brothels in Pune. Tamang was one of the lucky ones. Twenty girls were rescued from brothels and brought back to Nepal. These girls were provided with counseling, shelters, and employment (Bhattarai 5).
This is a heartbreaking reality for many young women in Nepal.