By Brigitte Cazalis-Collins
I would like to share the personal story of a child who survived “man’s inhumanity to man.”
My husband Joe and I met Gita very early in our involvement with Maiti Nepal. She was a young woman determined to make a difference in spite of her awful past. In 2003, she accompanied Anuradha Koirala to Boston and stayed in our home. She represented the victims of sex trafficking at Harvard Kennedy School and agreed to have her life story taped. During our stays in Nepal over the past quarter of a century, we saw Gita grow up into the person she is today. We rarely saw Gita without a smile, except when on duty in her many jobs as a border guard. Today at age 40, she remains committed to helping her sisters. Her devotion to this cause also reflects on Anuradha, the staff at Maiti Nepal, and your generous support.
Ram Maya Tamang, Gita’s birth name, was just a child when she was trafficked and sold to Pune, India at the tender age of 9 or 10. From that moment on, her life became a shadow where the line between life and death was but a blur, and hope seemed like a distant memory. Her world was dark until Maiti Nepal found her. In Gita’s words, “They didn’t just rescue me; they breathed life back into me. My mother gave me birth, but Anuradha Koirala Dijju gave me a reason to live.”
Rescued in 1996, during the months of recovery and care in the safety of the Maiti Nepal compound in Kathmandu, Gita was motivated to move forward and made the decision to spend her life taking care of her sisters. So began her new life. No chore has ever been too small for her. Eager to learn, she undertook every available job training at Maiti Nepal with utmost seriousness. She learned sewing, fabric painting, and cooking. With a kind soul but strong personality, she could handle many tasks.
First, she was the gatekeeper at Teresa Academy, a school run by Maiti Nepal. At the time when HIV was prevalent, she worked as a caretaker at Maiti Nepal hospice in Jhapa on the Indian border for a year. Following that, she served as a guard at the Nepal/Indian border. Passionate about raising awareness on gender-based violence and trafficking, she could be seen participating actively in numerous awareness campaigns.
However, her life took a tragic turn when she met Ramesh, a soldier in the Royal Nepalese Army, while working as a border guard. They fell in love and soon married. While pregnant, Ram Maya Tamang discovered she was HIV positive, a revelation that led her husband to abandon her. Fortunately, her son was born HIV negative and Gita is very healthy. She named him “Mukti,” which means freedom or liberation, symbolizing hope and new beginning. Today, Mukti is hoping to apply to a small American college.
Reflecting on her journey, Rama Maya speaks with quiet resolve:
“Now, I am a 40-year-old single mother. I have raised my son to be a man who today sees the world through eyes of empathy and equality, someone who will break the chains of patriarchy. He knows my struggles, and he carries the wisdom of my journey within him. One day, I know he will stand as an example, not just for me, but for a society that still needs change.”
“Cooking is my passion, a dream that has slowly taken shape over the years. When I reflect on my 9-year-old self, I see a girl devoid of dreams and hope. But now, my life has turned around, and I find myself daring to dream again. Today, I work in the staff kitchen at Maiti Nepal, a place that is my sanctuary. As I stand cooking with them, I think of the journey that has brought me here.”
“The kitchen is where I express myself, every dish I make is a way of fighting back against the darkness I once knew. The smell of spices and the sound of chopping vegetables show my strength and determination. I dream of opening a small restaurant, a place where I can serve tea, coffee, and snacks, and let my culinary skills shine. For us, the survivors of trafficking, dreaming big is a daunting task. Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever get the chance. My dreams frighten me, but I have learned that if your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”
Her life, once ravaged, is now dedicated to nurturing the future she never had. “Maiti Nepal became our beacon, lifting us from despair, securing my son’s education, and giving me the strength to stand tall.”
Gita wants to inspire other survivors, to show them that their dreams are valid and achievable. Her passion for justice burns bright—she has walked countless streets, raising her voice against gender-based violence, her presence in awareness campaigns a force to reckon with. When she performed in street dramas, it wasn’t mere acting; her soul poured into each role, bringing her lived experiences to life. Her performances captivated all who watched, her talent undeniable, her dancing as graceful as her leadership was strong. Each of these talents is her life line, and her leadership shines the brightest. Gita is more than a survivor; she is a pillar of strength.
I am very grateful to Gita for her willingness to share her life with us. Her confident disciplined demeanor has made her the heartbeat of Maiti Nepal’s mission. Whether overseeing logistics, helping in the office, preparing meals, or nurturing the smallest of children, she does it all with a quiet grace. The children adore her, finding comfort in her presence. To the beneficiaries of Maiti Nepal, Gita is a guardian, her very presence offers the safety and security they so deeply need. Gita aims to be a living testament proving to the world that a trafficking survivor can dare to dream and create a life once thought impossible. We do not forget those who are unable to regain a normal life. Thanks to Maiti Nepal, there are many more success stories.
On behalf of all, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued financial support. Donate now
