KATHMANDU, Sept 13: Miss Earth Switzerland 2013, Djoa Strassburg spent the past three days cooking food with Tharu women in Dang, dancing to their beats and most importantly interacting with the ex-Kamalari women in the Lawajuni Girls’ Hostel and the surrounding locality. Here through Plan Switzerland supporting the ‘Because I’m a Girl’ campaign by Plan International organization, Strassburg was hosted by Plan Nepal. [break]
“The topic of Kamalari girls touched me because a similar system, only more with boys, known as Verding Buben existed in Switzerland 50 years ago. When I heard that such a system still exists in Nepal, I was shocked and wanted to help. I needed to know what exactly was going on before I could help them,” Strassburg shares her motive in coming to Nepal.
She says she’ll be taking back positive images from this trip. “I spent my time sharing stories, hearing about their experiences and dreams for the future. It was great to see that the girls were now in school or receiving some sort of education,” she adds.
Strassburg has made a commitment to come back to Nepal in the next three years, to visit Dang again.