My skills and talent are recognized now!
Dona Pokharel has such story which sounds different from that of ours. Her story is amalgamation of desertion, hope and persistence. She is oblivious of her parents. 27 years ago, merely two weeks after her birth, she was brought to Purwanchal Orphanage of Morang from Inaruwa Hospital. She lived in the orphanage until she got married and shifted to her husband’s residence two years ago. Now she is working in Big Hotel of Biratnagar as a waitress. In 2019 she completed training on Assistant Waiter Level -1, conducted by Brilliant Manpower Training Center Pvt. Ltd. under SAMRIDDHI Project which is being managed by Ministry of Industry Supply and Commerce (MoISC) with financial support from International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD) and Helvetas Nepal technically assists the project’s sub component related to decent jobs.
While telling us about herself she said, “My destiny did not only part me from my parents, but it also impeded growth of my fingers and I got afflicted with disability. It must be my good luck that I got shelter in the orphanage and opportunity to study up to 12 class”. Regarding her inclination towards her present occupation, she recounts “Indeed, I had a strong call to work in hospitality sector from my adolescence age. My desperation led me to approach Hotel Shubham of Biratnagar in search of a job at the time when I was just admitted in class 11. After taking my brief interview, the hotel manager appointed me as a waitress and agreed to pay NRs. 5000 per month. In the beginning everything was going well with my job. However, unwelcoming comments of co-staff regarding my under- developed fingers started agitating me despite my attempts to ignore such remarks. One day the manager asked me to submit work related training certificate. I got fired from the job on account of not having training certificate”. The gloom which was reflected on her face while recalling the story of her failure did not remain there longer as she has another tale of success to tell us. As an adage says ‘God will fulfill your hope. Thus, keep on hoping’, she did not quit her aspiration. One day the warden of her orphanage informed her of upcoming training on Assistant Waiter, Level -1 and she was further informed that the training would be free of charge. With enthusiasm and hope, she applied for the training and got selected.
“Immediately after the completion of the three- months long training, I got appointed as a waitress in Big Hotel. Unlike in the previous job, now my co-workers appreciate my efficiency instead of degrading me for my disability. This change has been possible due to my enhanced skills and confidence brought about by the training that I attended”. While concluding the conversation, Dona did not forget to thank SAMRIDDHI Project for its effort to help deprived youths like her to lead economically independent and socially dignified life”.
