Susmita Baniya
Vocational Education & Nutritional Rehabilitation Home
Vocational Education & Career Counseling Program Alumna & Beneficiary of NYF’s Nutritional Rehabilitation Home
Entrepreneurship Development Facilitator, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City Office
When Susmita first came into contact with Nepal Youth Foundation in 2007, she was a young girl suffering from severe malnutrition. She was admitted to NYF’s Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH) in Kathmandu, where she received the care she needed to recover. During this period, her health challenges placed a heavy emotional and financial burden on her family, especially after the loss of her father. To help stabilize the family’s future, NYF began supporting Susmita’s education.
Even as a child, Susmita was known for her bright personality and determination. Inspired by the nurses who cared for her at the NRH, she dreamed of becoming one herself. She completed her School Leaving Certificate exams and began preparing for nursing entrance courses with great enthusiasm. However, after health consultations, she was advised not to pursue a career in the medical field. The news left her heartbroken. She continued her studies through the intermediate level but was unable to complete Grade 12, leaving her uncertain about what the future might hold.
“I was devastated—not being able to get a job or see a way forward,” she recalls. “It was during this difficult time that Laxmi Ma’am and Ram Babu Sir counseled me and encouraged me to join the Entrepreneurship Development Facilitator training. I am so grateful to them for showing me a new path.”
In August 2019, Susmita enrolled in NYF’s 18-month Entrepreneurship Development Facilitator training through the Vocational Education and Career Counseling (VECC) program. The course gave her renewed hope and the practical skills to become independent—something she had always aspired to, especially after watching her mother’s quiet strength in keeping their family together.
As part of her field training, Susmita worked with a local organization that motivated young girls in nearby villages to stay in school. The group also collaborated with municipal leaders to secure educational support—books, uniforms, and supplies—for children from Dalit and underprivileged backgrounds. The experience strengthened her confidence and deepened her passion for social work.
In September 2021, Susmita’s persistence paid off when she was selected for a government position as an Entrepreneurship Development Facilitator at Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City. Today, she empowers women’s groups to launch micro-enterprises, helps them access interest-free municipal loans, and conducts training sessions that encourage income-generating activities.
“Today, I earn Rs. 33,000 a month through my government job—but honestly, it’s not just about the money,” she says. “What matters more to me is that I can finally stand with dignity. I no longer feel helpless. I feel respected, confident, and proud of the journey I’ve made.”
Looking back, Susmita sees NYF as the constant support that helped her reach where she is today. “NYF has been like a real father to me,” she shares. “I lost my own father when I was very young, but NYF stepped in, supported me, guided me, and never let me feel alone. Everything I am today is because they believed in me.”
To the next generation, she offers a message of encouragement: “Life is worthwhile when you live with purpose and help others rise. That’s what I’m trying to do too.”
P.S. Learn more about Nutritional Rehabilitation Homes (NRHs) + Vocational Education and Career Counseling at NYF.