Discovering Dignity, Love, And A Cause For Hope in Nepal
The hours pass slowly for Aarav and Gita. On hot days, the air is thick and buzzes with flies. They used to have conversations, but since Gita’s stroke two years ago, she can’t speak, walk, or see to her own personal needs. For Aarav, in poor health himself, their situation often feels bleak. As he says:
“We spent much money on her treatment, but to no avail… I cannot go anywhere. She can’t be left alone at any time.”
The couple’s eldest son sometimes comes to take a turn sitting with Gita. And Aarav asks his daughters-in-law to help bathe her. For a year and a half after Gita’s stroke, Aarav fed her. But then he taught her to use her own hands to eat, though much of her food falls on the ground and goes to waste.
For a time, Aarav didn’t know how he could generate income to buy food, all while serving as his wife’s primary caregiver.
People with Disabilities Are Treated as a Burden
For people living under the crushing weight of poverty and disability in Nepal, hope can easily run dry. The leader of our Joni’s House Nepal team shared about the difficulties people with difficulties face in the primarily Hindu and Buddhist culture.
“People see disability as a result of wrongdoing in their family. So usually they are treated as a burden by their families and society…
Joni’s House programs in Nepal supports individuals and families living with disability. This has great value for people with disabilities in Nepal who are not treated as ‘normal’ human beings. We have seen many people with disabilities living a life of isolation, just waiting for death to come.
So the way we at Joni’s House treat people with disabilities gives them a sense of worth and dignity. Instead of feeling like animals, they feel like people, with value and purpose in their lives.”
A Source of Income and Hope for Aarav and Gita
Thanks to the team at Joni’s House, Aarav is no longer left to linger in despair, facing hunger and long, lonely hours that feel empty. The Joni’s House program has set Aarav up with a grocery store adjacent to their home, so he now runs a business that provides income, and a sense of meaning and purpose.
“They tried to help in in every way… We want to thank them,” says Aarav.
In addition to serving individuals and families living with disability, the Joni’s House Nepal team is also doing advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities, raising awareness through schools, government agencies, and communities across the country. At every step, more people are discovering dignity, love, and a cause for hope.
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