Tek Bahadur Gurung Bhujung 4, Lamjung
“I could never leave my village. I grew up here and I have the most beautiful memories of my childhood. I went to school here and I have made lifelong friends. Everyone here lives in close proximity. No house has a wall and no household hides a secret. My troubles are my neighbours’ troubles and my neighbours family is no less than my own family. But I must tell you the truth too. The world is changing and people are buying and selling and using the money to raise a family. And children are required to go to school to know about the world. I am not sure how relying on agriculture alone can help villagers uplift their lives. But I see there are ways to improve the quality and quantity of work and labour. Recently my family bought a tractor and a ploughing drill and it has renewed our hope. But I must tell you the truth. Sometimes I sit and wish I was in a new place, with new people, living a different life. But other times, I think I could never leave my village.”