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Just Another Obstacle, Faced and Conquered! 

-By Dolma Ghale

Name: Sarita Kumari Bakhrel 
Address: Gaiyatar, Kamalamai Municipality 5, Sindhuli
Family Members: 4 (husband and wife and 2 sons) 

Summary: 
After returning to Sindhuli, Sarita faced heartbreaking challenges, including the loss of a cow and painful kidney stone surgery that left her unable to care for her cows. Despite her vow to give up, the encouragement from Heifer Korea and SIDS Nepal reignited her determination. Today, she’s not only successfully raising cows but also dreams of expanding her farm to provide her family with a comfortable and happy life. 

“After the death of my cow and my kidney stone surgery, I felt extremely low and discouraged. I met with representatives from SIDS Nepal and told them I couldn’t manage the cows anymore and would return them to avoid neglecting them. However, the teams from SIDS Nepal and Heifer Nepal encouraged me to keep pushing forward making me believe I could take care of the cows. Thanks to their support, I persevered and now I am here.”- Sarita Kumar Bakhrel

Background:
Sarita Kumari Bakhrel grew up in a farming family, learning about farming through her family’s way of life. Even with her education, she decided to follow in their footsteps and continue farming. Today, cow farming is the primary source of income for her family.  

Sarita’s Journey from 9-5 to Cow Farming:
In Sindhuli, good job opportunities are scarce, and finding decent work often means traveling far from home. Sarita had traveled extensively within the district for employment, and every time she was working away from her children, she constantly worried about them. The stress and demands of her job also made her miss her family deeply. Ultimately, this longing led her to return to Sindhuli and focus on cow farming, a venture that allowed her to stay home and be with her family. However, upon returning, Sarita faced numerous challenges; including the heartbreaking loss of her cow, which made her question her decision. Despite this, her determination to provide for her family gave her the strength to move forward. 

Heifer Intervention:
She was one of the lucky people who received the Holstein cow from Heifer Korea. But compounding her difficulties, Sarita suffered from a kidney stone that left her unable to properly care for her cows. She had a helper, but the care provided fell short of her expectations, leading to further frustration and doubts about whether she should continue. Ultimately, Sarita decided to stop raising cows, feeling a deep sense of responsibility to honor the trust Heifer Korea had invested in her. But the SIDS Nepal and Heifer Nepal teams motivated her greatly, making her believe she could successfully care for the cows. Thanks to their encouragement, today she is successfully raising the cows and taking great pride in her work. 

Future Aspirations:
In the future, she dreams of continuing her journey in cow farming and taking it to new heights. She envisions a thriving farm where her hard work and dedication provide well for her family. She longs to see the smiles on their faces, knowing that her efforts have given them a life of comfort and happiness.   

Final Thoughts:  

Your only true barrier is your mindset, and within every obstacle lies an opportunity.   

Even when everything seems impossible, there is always hope. Sarita understands this well, she believes that our thoughts shape our reality. If you trust in yourself and stay in tune with your true self, you’ll find yourself naturally drawn to your life’s purpose just as she did.