My name is Binita Bhujel. I am from Udayapur, Ghaighat Bajar. My parents migrated to the Dhading Mahadev Besi seeking a job. I also came with my parents. I was about very young that time.
My parents were unhappy and drink alcohol as well. They used to beat me up sometimes. Life at stone quarry was very difficult. 
My parents are uneducated and they couldn’t find a job. So they stayed on the Bank of Mahadev Besi river and started work at stone quarry. I was the only one child in my family and I am the daughter of father Ram Bahadur Bhujel and mother Namrata Bhujel. Now I am ten years old. There are four members [father, mother, small brother and me]. Both of my parents work at stone quarry.
I was very young when I started work and help to my parents. I was about 7 years old when I started work. I started working as a help to my parents but later on it became my daily work to earn some money for food. We did not have any source of income to live up and get the basic things.
I had to work at stone quarry as well as at home. We live on the back of river where we have very small plastic covered hut. We all live in and we did not have any facilities like Electricity, drinking water etc. we cook food under the open sky. I used to collect stones from river, carry to work place and have to crush into small pieces. Work at stone quarry was physically very hard.
On top of that, I had to go to collect firewood, cook food, wash kitchen utensils and clothes as well. My parents were busy crushing stones so it was my duty to prepare meals for them. After having meal, I also go to crush stones. We had always worked for living. Many children like me still working there. I had got many injuries, cuts and wounds during at stone quarry. My parents never took me to a Doctor because they did not have spare money for it. Our daily lives were just working all the time at stone quarry. Even we did a very hard job; we could not afford to buy sufficient food.
We had to work under the contactor who gives us money for our work. If we didn’t work the contactor did not give any money for food. My parents were unhappy and drink alcohol as well. They used to beat me up sometimes. Life at stone quarry was very difficult. I used to work at stone quarry and household works daily. I did not have any time to play with friends, go out to visit and for entertainment.
One day some staffs from Help to Educate came to visit at stone quarry. I had seen many times visiting there. They had seen me working. They came closer to speak with me. They asked my name, age, about my work and parents as well. I was afraid to talk with them but the people were very nice and kind. I spoke them very frankly about my condition at stone quarry. They asked me whether I wanted to go to study. I was happy when they told me that they are helping children like me. They spoke with my parents as well.
My parents were happy to hear about my opportunity for study in a hostel in Kathmandu. Later they took me to a Little Gems Girls Hostel in Khokana, Lalitpur. I was very nervous seeing many children there. All of them had same situation as mine. They became my friends and sister. They all are very nice and kind to help me. Since I came to the hostel, I have been studying in Future Stars School. Now I am studying at Grade 5. I have passed my terminal exams. I am studying very hard. My aim is to be a teacher in future and I will help to poor people like me. I would like to Thank to Help to Educate and my sponsor and all well wishers.
Kumari has been living in Little Gems Hostel since she was 7 years old.
