Empowerment through employment
DHARAN, May 25: A shop keeper from the nearby shop walks in to order noodles. Divya gets up instantly and takes the order while Dipika starts preparing the utensils necessary to cook. The aroma of spices fills the room and the order is ready to be served. “The customers leave happy and with full stomach at a very reasonable price and we have a job too,” echoed both of them while doing their work.
Divya Pachakoti and Dipika Karki, both 20-year-olds and member of Activista Dharan, have been running the Tea Talk Center in Putali line, Dharan for the past one and half months. Initially funded by Activista, a youth platform of ActionAid, Nepal, the girls are moving forward with the hope to expand the shop and cater to a larger crowd and also create employment opportunities for other young people in the laid back town. “Youth here are not engaged anywhere because there is no employment opportunity and hence they divert to substance abuse,” said Divya.[break]
“When the Tea Talk Center started, nobody visited the shop. Then we started calling up friends from our respective colleges, invited nearby shopkeepers and other members of Activista Dharan to visit,” shared Aaiti Maya Tamang, another member of the youth platform, which has been active in many awareness campaigns and social activities.
Pravat Jung Gurung/Republica
L to R: Divya Pachakoti and Dipika Karki
“The main objective behind opening this tea shop was to show the society that anyone can do any kind of job and we’re glad that we got the opportunity to run it first,” said Dipika. Adding to that, Divya said that the idea was also to create employment. The shop initially served only tea and cold drinks but, upon request, is now also serving quick meals like momo, chowmein, fried noodles etc.
“The idea was originally of Activista Nepal and Moti (dai), coordinator of the youth platform. We were given a sum of Rs 100,000 with which we bought furniture, fridge and all the utensils we needed,” informed Divya. The young girls, who just appeared for their plus two’s final exams, want to buy more stuff for the shop with the profit they earn. “We have to pay Rs 3000 for the space and then there are electricity and water bills. Both of us drew around Rs 1500 last month,” shared Divya.
The Tea Talk Center, however, serves a double purpose. “Activista Dharan doesn’t have an office space here. So whenever we have something to discuss, we hold our meetings here. This has turned out to be our hang out spot,” said Aaiti smilingly, adding, “We hope when people see our initiatives, they will also come join us in our endeavors.”
For the first one year, Divya and Dipika have taken up the responsibility to run the shop. If and when they decide to leave, or if there is anyone else interested to run it, then they can do so, informed Divya. “The main objective here is to prove dignity of labor and turn this place into a success story in the near future,” said Dipika.
The Tea Talk Center is open from 6am to 7pm.