Relimaya, one of our Hostel kitchen cooks

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Angus Mccoll - feature stories

Relimaya, Sonam, Bindu and Sanju (front)

Meet Relimaya. – she came to the FHC Hostel as one of the kitchen staff who prepare the meals for the Hostel kids. Her life story hasn’t been easy but very typical of young women in regional Nepal.

She was forced into an arranged marriage in a remote village away from home at a young age. Sadly a lack of support from her husband and his family made settling into her new life difficult. Their home was in the middle of a jungle, far from school and even the nearest bazaar. Just to attend school, her children would have to walk two hours via risky paths, constantly under threat from wild animals. It wasn’t safe, and it certainly wasn’t fair. Despite the hardships, she refused to give up.

Relimaya joined our hostel family with her two beautiful children – 7-year-old Sanju and 3-year-old Sonam. Her younger sister Bindu, had already completed Grade 10 with FHCs support.

She came to us with a simple dream – a better education, a safer life, and a brighter future for her children. Now, as part of our hostel community, she’s not only working but also making sure her kids grow up with care, learning, and love.