Tanuja's Story

My name is Tanuja. (not pictured) I am from Shankhuwasabha, a remote village in East Nepal. I am the third daughter of five children. My parents don’t have enough land so mostly depend on labor work as porters to bear the family expenses. I got a chance to go to school up to basic education. It was so hard to manage money for the school uniform, books and required stationery. I left school to take care of my siblings so my parents could get time to go for work. I felt so upset in leaving school and passing the days taking care of my small brothers.

One day, one of my school friends came to my house. We shared our feelings with each other and planned to go to the city to work and earn lots of money. Accordingly, we left for a city in east Nepal. She helped me to find a job in a local restaurant. I started to work as a receptionist. My major responsibility was to deal with the customers and make them happy. The owner instructed me to spend time with customers and encourage them to consume as much alcohol as possible. They used to sit and have a drink with them. I denied in the beginning, but gradually I started to follow since the owner was frequently giving me pressure. Later, I was pushed to have sexual relations with the customers as well. I was passing my days in such a miserable situation that there was no hope remaining. I would like to thank God that police did a raid in the restaurant where I was working and took me into custody. From police custody, I was brought into this safe home.

I was reluctant in the beginning to stay in this safe house. But gradually, I found here love and peace. I started to join in and slowly started to feel healing inside me. By the grace of God, I have been able to complete my sewing course which has increased my level of confidence. 

CHELI - "Beloved Daughter"

In the last decade, Eternal Threads’ partner in Nepal has rescued thousands of Nepali girls and young women like Tanuja who was brought to their safe home. CHELI, the Nepali word for “beloved daughter” is the appropriate name for their program of rescue, restoration and hope for a new life for the “Beloved Daughters” of Nepal that are CHELI.

Restoration begins immediately after rescue by providing a loving family atmosphere in the safe homes along with trauma counseling and spiritual guidance. The girls begin to know that they can have a new life.

By investing in vocational training, we instill valuable life-lessons in sewing and tailoring. After graduating from the program, each woman receives their own sewing machine, giving them the means by which to start their own businesses. These small shops in turn become centers for empowerment, awareness raising and education in communities across Nepal, challenging the generational cycle of poverty and exploitation.