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Dechen’s story

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance helps educate and empower the next generation of Nepali girls.

Dechen, a young Nepali girl with a medium skin tone, draws stars on paper with a yellow case of colored pencils. She is wearing a purple dress, and her chin-length black hair is held with a purple clip.

In Dechen’s community, many fathers don’t support their daughters’ education. They may tell them that their place is at home, or that their education doesn’t matter as much as their brothers’. 

But Dechen’s father is different. 

Recognizing the importance of education and empowerment, Karma started The Small World in Nepal. 

The Small World (Opens in a new tab), supported by the Girls Opportunity Alliance, works to empower girls, women, and communities through education in the Himalayan regions of Nepal with the ultimate goal of ending deep-rooted cycles of poverty.

To realize their vision of a future where every vulnerable girl can thrive, The Small World builds schools and girls’ dormitories and provides scholarships, tuition fees, uniforms, and books. The organization also provides mentorship and leadership development programs to help girls pursue their goals and grow into future role models for their community.

As Dechen says, "My dad tells me to dream big, and I do. I’m proud that The Small World is helping girls in Nepal chase their dreams, too."

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