“In the future, I want to become a doctor and treat all of my patients free of charge. So that other children like me won’t have to suffer.”
Ten-year-old Rakip (pictured above) lives in Kathmandu with his mother and two younger brothers, aged nine and seven. The family relocated from their rural village three years ago, hoping for better opportunities in the city. Life took a difficult turn when Rakip’s father tragically passed away in an accident two years ago, leaving his mother to raise the children alone. She found work as a caretaker in a church, where the family was also provided with accommodation.
An accident that changed everything
When Rakip was a small child, he was often looked after by his grandfather while his parents worked in the fields. One day, while playing with his friends near the roadside, an accident led to serious damage in his left eye. Despite being rushed to a hospital, doctors could not save his vision. Living in a remote part of Nepal, specialist medical treatment in Kathmandu was out of reach for the family at the time due to their financial struggles.
Living with challenges
Growing up with a visible injury, Rakip often felt awkward and isolated in social settings. He struggled to connect with other children and was very conscious of how people looked at him in public spaces. He found it difficult to join in with games at school, often feeling left out and questioning his future.
Pictured below: Rakip and his mother.
Finding support through SathSath
It was through SathSath’s Mobile School that Rakip first connected with the organisation. Over the last two years, his life has changed significantly. He has received counselling, educational support, and emergency assistance — all of which have helped him grow in confidence and self-belief. He shares;
"I am very happy after taking the counselling session where I am able to boost my self-esteem. I got educational support and emergency support. I am getting better in my studies, learning to be more confident, taking care of myself. Before being connected with SathSath, we were struggling ecomonically and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to continue my studies despite the help of my relatives. Now, I am grateful to SathSath for supporting me with schooling, stationery, counselling and so on.”
One of the project workers shares; “Rakip has shown remarkable improvements with his health and hygiene. He is more active and more social compared to when we initially met him. His studies have improved and he is gaining interest in both indoor and outdoor activities.”
Pictured below: (L) Rakip plays with his friends at the Learning Centre. (R) Rakip practices his reading with a SathSath project worker.
Looking to the future
Rakip still dreams of a day when his eyesight could be restored. Though limited in physical activities, his passion for outdoor games remains strong. He continues;
“I love to engage in outdoor games and activities but due to my impaired left eye, my outdoor ventures are limited. Sometimes, I think that if my eyes were good, I would make an excellent athlete. If I get treated, the first thing I would do is go out to play.”
Looking ahead, Rakip has big dreams — dreams born from his own personal experiences. He shares;
“In the future, I want to become a doctor and treat all of my patients free of charge. So that other children like me won’t have to suffer. I hope to treat my eye if there’s a treatment for it.”
Pictured below: Rakip (second from the left) during a group counselling session with a SathSath project worker.
