When a mother dies, there is no money left for school
A mother of three from Austria is helping a Nepalese girl named Tashi break the cycle of poverty.
I have been helping children around the world for over 20 years. I still remember from my own childhood how my mother would always support sick or needy children, even though she never had much money. I grew up in a simple working-class family in Slovakia. For my mother, it was second nature to donate a portion of the little she had to children she didn’t even know. Despite the financial hardship, she never felt a sense of lack; on the contrary, she felt blessed to be able to support others. This spirit of giving was instilled in me from the very beginning, and over the years I have sponsored several children—currently five across three continents. These sponsorships were arranged through two major aid organizations. We exchange letters or emails, and this summer I will visit one of them, Fabian, in Paraguay.
About a year and a half ago, I felt a desire to help in a more personal way. I Googled “street children Nepal” and came across Sahayata. When I read about the direct impact of their work, I decided immediately to get involved. I was warmly welcomed by the wonderful women at Sahayata, and I soon helped procure a battery for the solar power system in Sundarijal. However, my heart was truly touched when I heard about a girl whose mother had died while giving birth to a sibling. Sadly, the baby also passed away. It is hard to imagine that—on top of the emotional trauma—the cost of medical transport and the ultimately futile medical care placed a severe financial burden on the family. The situation was so dire that the father could not afford the school fees for his daughter. I have a daughter and two sons of my own—all teenagers who aren’t always thrilled about having to go to school. Without an education, a girl like Tashi would end up in poverty. So, I didn’t hesitate to cover her school fees—not just for this year, but for the years to come—until she can stand on her own two feet.
I also witnessed what direct aid looks like in practice when Sahayata responded immediately to the devastating floods in Nepal a few weeks ago and raised funds. There was no red tape—just a swift, heartfelt response.
I cannot imagine a life without helping disadvantaged children. My great vision is to build a children’s village in Nepal for 64 street children and 8 substitute mothers, named after my late mother. I share this dream with my children and am deeply grateful to be a role model for them. In this way, the next generation, too, will be happy to help and experience the wonderful feeling of giving unconditionally.
