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Urmila Chaudhary
Film: Urmila – für die Freiheit

The Kamalaris often get mistreated, every 10th is sexually abused, they are denied a school education. Urmila too is not allowed to go to school in this time and works up to 19 hours daily. The girl has to sleep on the floor and gets only very little to eat. After years, contact with her brother gets renewed and through him, the contact to NYF is established. The Nepal Youth Foundation has fought the Kamalari system since the year 2000. The NYF also helps her to come back to her family. The girls liberated by the organisation can receive a school education, and NYF educates them to be leaders in the fight against the Kamalari system.

On the day of her liberation, Urmila promises herself to do everything in her power to overcome this cruel system. With the support of NYF she is able to organise with the other liberated girls in the self-help organisation Freed Kamalari Development Forum FKDF, that she is in charge of today. For her fight, she is in a critical dialogue with the government, organizes demonstrations, spreads flyers with the aim of sensitizing the population, and organizes liberation operations. The former Kamalaris get placed in specialized School and Education Programs so that they can lead a self-determined life someday.

After a lot of setbacks, in 2013 the Kamalari system was finally banished by the government. Too much pressure from outside, by organisations such as Urmila’s, forced them to this decision. But many actions and vigilance of the FKDF are needed to guarantee the consequent application of the state laws.
However, Urmila makes efforts to achieve more rights for girls: she fights for the education of the Kamalari girls, against child marriage, and against child labour. Child trafficking is also one of the causes she addresses and which has increased since the earthquake in Nepal.

With an astonishing self-confidence and an unbelievable energy she pursues her big dream to study law, to achieve even more for Girls’ and Women’s Rights as a lawyer.
“I am confident that in the future all women in Nepal receive a good education.”
On the question concerning the most valuable thing in her life, Urmila answers: “My freedom. And I want to gain this for all girls. When we fight together we can achieve it!”

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