Ramita Tamang, an 18-year-old from Namobuddha municipality, Kavre district, Nepal, dropped out of school after grade 10, but she never lost the will to learn. She was one of the first participants to join the “electrician training programme” at BRAC Nepal to become a skilled technician.
When BRAC introduced the “electrician training programme” in Nepal in 2019, in partnership with Signify, to provide training courses that help women become lighting and electrical technicians, Ramita was one of the first participants.
Ramita Tamang, an 18-year-old from Namobuddha municipality in Kavre district dropped out of school after grade 10, but she never lost the will to learn. Ramita’s father left to work in India and has not returned in a long time. When the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March 2020, her brothers lost their jobs as cooks. As it was too expensive to live in Kathmandu without a job, they were compelled to return home to Kavre.
Meanwhile in her community, Ramita was still getting called to work on electrical wiring by her neighbours. Settlements are not too dense in the hills of Namobuddha, and residents often opt to commute by walking. Ramita chooses to work in pairs with her fellow electricians, for each other’s safety and security.
They also take precautionary measures such as wearing masks and gloves, particularly when they must interact with other people. She is aware that social distancing, and washing hands with soap and water before entering the house and before eating are very important.
Ramita shares her gratitude for BRAC Nepal; she is now proud to be identified as an electrician. It boosts her confidence and provides her with a livelihood of her own. She is also a source of inspiration for other girls in her community.
Due to her unique skills, she is one of those rare people in her community who are still able to earn a living and buy food for themselves and their families during these unprecedented times.
