Meet Shova

Here's a blurb I wrote about Shova Pariyar for a competition about volunteers who work to better communities in Nepal. Shova is one of my best friends in Nepal, and one of the most inspiring women I have met.

Shova is part of the lowest caste in Nepal, but the respect that she has gained in her village thanks to her work in community development is palpable. Her family are seamstresses, received very little education. Her mother studied through class 4, but speaks of the importance of educating girls and allowing them the same educational opportunities as boys. Despite this, Shova acknowledges the discrepancy in love toward sons and daughters in Nepal. In Nepal after the son marries, his parents live with him. After a daughter marries, she moves out and lives with her husbands family, only returning to her "maiti" for holidays and occasional visits.  Due to these customs, women are pressured to have a son, and more resources are put toward his success as he will be the one to stay in the family. Today in Nepal, many men seek work abroad, earning money which they send home to their wives and parents. Shova hopes to go abroad herself and delay her marriage until she has achieved some of her own goals.

Shova Pariyar is a leader in her community, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of educating girls and stopping  child marriage. She has been a volunteer for 3.5 years with Global Action Nepal, a NGO which identifies girls in the community at risk of dropping out of school and encourages them to continue to pursue an education. Global Action Nepal partners girls between the ages of 9-18 with young women in the community through a mentorship program and leads trainings ranging from empowerment to reproductive health. The organization has monthly meetings, in which Shova often suggests projects which she believes will be both fun and useful for the girls in the program such as making reusable sanitary pads and taking about menstruation.

        Shova is a "big sister" to 4 girls in her village. In this role, she meets with the girls at their homes, helps them with homework, and checks in with their teachers to see how they are doing in their classes. Shova also talks with the parents of her "little sisters" to discuss the importance of educating heir daughters as well as their sons. Recently, Shova helped secure funding to get toys for government schools in the community to allow children the opportunity to play rather than work, and encourage them to attend school. She is passionate about the community she is a part of, and will continue to volunteer her time with the girls. Her vision serves as an inspiration for the future of Nepal.