By Cathy Clifton | Communications Director
Srijana came to Ama Ghar from the Sisters of Charity, who found this beautiful and brilliant little girl languishing in the streets of Kathmandu with a mother who was mentally ill and unable to care for her. Through the Nepali Social Welfare System, Srijana came to Ama Ghar as a six year old. The rest of her story is a testament to the power of love - and of a small girl's determination and belief in her dreams.
As a child, Srijana quickly became a leader among her peers at Ama Ghar. She was particularly good at math and strategy games... but her biggest talent was her amazing artistic ability. Not only was she the house chess champion, but she created paintings, drawings, even mandalas that looked like the work of an adult artist, much to the amazement of all.
As Srijana grew up, she knew she wanted to use the artistic force that drives her to create a livelihood for herself... the staff encouraged her to be a graphic designer or a website designer or an illustrator - but she discovered that what she really loved was designing clothes! She designed and made clothes for her brothers and sisters, went to fashion design school and was even chosen as one of Nepal's top young talents and her dresses were featured in a fashion show with two other rising stars.
But as often happens with talented young people around the world, the reality set in when it was time to find a paying job. Srijana taught fashion illustration and even worked in the office of a textile factory to learn more about the business of fabric and fashion. She never stopped dreaming that she might one day be a well-known fashion designer like her hero - Nepali fashion superstar Prabal Gurung, with whom she shared a surrname and a vision. She was told that in order to break into that world, she'd have to have an advanced degree and recognition outside Nepal.
Through sheer force of will she applied for and won a scholarship to Raffles Milano Instituto Moda e Design for a ten month intensive Masters course in Fashion Design and Business in Milan. The Ama Ghar staff helped her to get her visa, a donor and mentor pledged to finance her expenses, found her a place to live and sent her on her way... and now she is living with a sweet Italian grandma, studying in Milan and on track to achieve her dreams.
None of this would happen without the support of friends like you. There are so many other brilliant and beautiful children who are lost without this kind of support - when you donate to Ama Ghar you are saving lives and realizing dreams... one child at a time.
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