Suntali is the second child of six girls in her family. She was 12 years old when she left her family’s rural home to move to the urban capital of Kathmandu. Her work at a carpet factory has been a major source of income for her large family. She focused her attention on her purpose: to earn money to support her family. She earned money only when a carpet was completed and it was very little. Even so, almost everything she made went to her family. That hard work helped her si
Rama Tamang was born into a remote village of Nepal. Her father passed away when she was an infant, also leaving behind her mother and 12-year-old brother. Years later her mother eloped with another man, forcing the siblings to fend for themselves. At age 12, Rama moved to the city at the request of relatives to work in a carpet factory. She knew nothing about making carpets and spoke a local dialect and had to learn Nepali language. With dedication and practice she learned
Khilak and his family are from a rural village called Bassbote in Nepal. His father was called "kaput," translating to “unworthy son,” because he had four daughters and was 55-years-old by the time Khilak was born. Likely stemming from criticism for having no sons for so long, Khilak faced extra pressure to fulfill his father’s wishes. He was forced to marry at the age of 14. He remembers crying in school when his father came to take him to get married. Now 30, Khilak is the