This is the life that 68 year old Jun Maya Gurung leads. Having lived in Thanchowk village for her entire life, she hadn’t been aware of the outside world. Up until recently, Jun Maya was a farmer by trade. She farmed crops such as maize, potatoes and wheat which supported and allowed an income for her and her family.
Much like many other people living in remote communities, Bis Man Gurang lived a simple life working to support his family and village. 70 year old, father of two, Gurang used to be a caprterpter and enjoyed his job. However, when he began to lose his vision he quickly realised that he would have to give up his career.
The past year saw over 15 thousand surgeries completed. This was a major success for everyone involved. It means that those living in remote and poor communities across Nepal have been given a second chance at life and were able to thrive and earn a living.
Jungalee Majhi spent his entire adult life farming the land of his landlord. While on special occasions he would be paid in cash, most of the time he would return home with a bag full of grains. With the infrequent cash payments, there was nothing for him to save causing him and his family to spend their days in poverty, in a hut they had built on unclaimed land.
Developing countries such as Nepal often rely heavily on the labour and hard-work of their citizens to allow the country to prosper. However, when issues such as blindness occur nationwide, it becomes increasingly difficult for those citizens to seek employment and work towards building a better future.
When Jagat Bahadur Tamang’s wife passed away, he chose not to remarry as he worried about the kind of treatment his new wife would bestow upon his three children. Being only 35, and other villagers constantly pressured him into remarrying — however, he would not budge. Instead, he dedicated his energy towards providing a quality life for his three children.
