Puja D.

Puja's roots trace back to the remote Himalayan village of Kalagaun in Salyan, Nepal, where the rugged terrain echoes the resilience of its inhabitants. Her parents, once farmers, sought better opportunities and migrated to India in 2017, where they toiled as laborers in challenging conditions. However, their struggles were compounded by the burden of severe alcoholism, leading to her mother's tragic passing from liver cirrhosis in 2019 when Puja was just three years old, while her siblings, Saraswati and her elder brother, faced their own challenges at tender ages.

In the wake of their mother's death, Puja's father made the difficult decision to seek employment in the Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh, where he works tirelessly as a road worker, braving the harsh climate and meager wages to provide for his family. Despite his efforts, the family continues to grapple with multiple health issues and the constant threat of poverty.

Puja and her siblings endured a childhood marred by neglect and malnutrition until they found refuge at Amrita-Seattle. Over the past two years, Puja has flourished within the nurturing environment of the organization. Healthy, bright, and brimming with curiosity, she embodies the resilience of youth and the promise of a brighter future.

With each day, Puja eagerly absorbs knowledge and embraces new opportunities for growth. Her father, buoyed by hope, dreams of a better future for his daughter—a future where Puja receives the quality education and support she deserves, ultimately breaking the cycle of hardship and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow for their family. In Puja's journey lies the potential to transform adversity into opportunity, forging a path toward a life of dignity and fulfillment.