@Kalpabrikshya. 2015. On the way from Dhorpatan to Nisheldhor.

As I walked through the picturesque landscape of northwest Nepal, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and frustration. Just a few years earlier, this region had been torn apart by a brutal civil war. The scars of that conflict were still evident everywhere I looked - from the abandoned bunkers that dotted the countryside to the fear and mistrust that lingered in the eyes of the people I met.

But despite the challenges they faced, these people were some of the most resilient and welcoming I had ever encountered. One of the most poignant moments of my journey came on the fifth day of my two-week trek when I encountered two small children on the side of the road. They were no more than five or six years old, and they were carrying a traditional basket on their backs as they walked towards a distant source of water. It would have taken them at least an hour to reach it, and I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness as I watched them trudge along.

I spent the next hour talking with the kids, trying to impart whatever knowledge and encouragement I could. I took their photo with my DSLR camera, their curiosity piqued by my camera, which was like nothing they had ever seen before. My thoughts turned to the countless INGOs and NGOs working in the western part of Nepal, specifically in this region, claiming to protect children's rights and offer assistance. The reality, however, is that these organizations have never truly reached the communities where help is most needed. It's a story that can be found all across Nepal, in villages where the heart breaks at the sight of children working hard at such a young age, with no opportunities for education due to a lack of resources and access.

The sandals the children wore were expertly repaired, a testament to their family's poverty. I couldn't help but wonder about the power that decides which children are born into privilege, with all the toys and opportunities one could wish for, and which are doomed to a life of struggle and pain from the moment they are born. It's not just a problem in Nepal, of course, but a global issue that affects countless children in many countries.

As I watched these two young children, I couldn't shake the thought of their future careers - how would they shape up if they had never been to school and were unaware of even the most basic concepts? It was a stark reminder of the many challenges Nepal faces in promoting rural education and awareness, particularly in the aftermath of the civil war that had left so many communities in ruins.

But despite these challenges, the people of Nepal remain resilient and determined. As I think back on my journey and the stories I heard from the people I met, I am filled with a sense of hope for the future. With hard work and determination, I believe that we can help to build a brighter future for the children of Nepal and work towards a world where no child is left to struggle alone.

And then, just a few short months later, Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake that further exacerbated the struggles of these already impoverished communities. Homes were destroyed, schools were reduced to rubble, and countless people were left homeless and traumatized by the disaster. But even in the face of such overwhelming hardship, the people of Nepal remain resilient and determined.

As I reflect on my journey and the stories I heard from the people I met, I am filled with a sense of hope for the future. With hard work and determination, I believe that we can help to build a brighter future for the children of Nepal and work towards a world where no child is left to struggle alone.