My Memorable Journey

 Hello & Namaste!
My name is Aita Maya Tamang. I am from Ruby Valley, Dhading-Nepal. In my family there are 5 daughters and 2 sons. Among them, I am the youngest daughter in my family. In my village, there aren’t  any proper facilities of schooling to provide education. Educating girls isn't a priority for villagers. 
                      When I was a child, my sisters and I were forced to leave our village, family and friends due to poverty, child marriage, and human traffcking. I was protected by my sister Ganga and founder Lila Ghising. They brought me to safe-home. I remembered when I left my village I was scared and I didn’t understand the language and culture in the city. I thought I was sold. It took me a while to realize I was safe. Now, I know  I ‘m lucky to be here. I met many sisters like me and found my second family.
Many of my childhood friends in the village who were forced into a child-marriage already have their own children. Daily basis they experience poverty and abuse by their partners. I believe the same thing  would have happened to me,  if I weren’t given the opportunity to be in the safehome. I have lived in a safe home for 10 years and I have graduated from high school. And I am going to start college for  higher education. Through the WPC-Nepal safe home organization, many children like me are getting a new life and finding a new family.  They provide good education, shelter, meals, love and acceptance. 
                        Now I ‘m an adult and I have to start supporting myself for higher education. I am starting my side- business with help from Nari- Boutique to utilize my talents and interests. I want to support myself through my Aita Art Gallery. Your purchase will assist me to support my college education and other expenses. You can place your order and I will ship directly from Nepal.
                        This painting is one of my favorite paintings which reflects Galga, a place we pass by as I return back to my village during vacation. It takes 3 days from Hetauda to my village by walking and taking the bus. This long journey shows me beautiful places, houses, rivers, and this landscape. In my village, there are no facilities for vehicles, so people rely on yaks, donkeys and horses to carry heavy luggages and people. Yaks are valued for their production of Ghee, milk, cheese,and curd. They are used for plowing and threshing, as well as for meat as a medicine, hides, and fur. Including yaks in my painting was important to show their constant use in my culture. The flags you see are Buddhist prayer flags that convey meaningful colors and decorate their homes. All these things make me appreciate the country I live in and the richness in culture and beauty it holds. 
 
Artist: Aita Maya Tamang
Address: Nepal -4
 Date: June 23,2021
 Size: 12*16 inches