Tento článek je dostupný i v češtině 🇨🇿
📖 New to Aarati’s story? / Čtete příběh Aarati poprvé?
Start with the original article. / Začněte původním článkem.
English version / Česká verze
A year ago, we shared the story of Aarati, a young woman from Nepal whose future husband had been chosen for her when she was only seven years old. Instead of accepting the life that others had planned for her, she decided to put everything on one card. She packed her suitcase, travelled alone to the Czech Republic and began building a future based on her own choices.
After we shared her story, something unexpected happened. One of the companies that decided to support Aarati was Accace Czech Republic, which contributed towards her university studies. This year, we received another wonderful piece of news: Accace decided to support her education for a second year.
It felt like the right moment to ask Aarati what had changed over the past twelve months. This time, we decided to continue her story in the form of an interview, giving her the space to reflect in her own words on what has been difficult, what she is proud of, how she has changed, and what she hopes for next.
Looking back
When you look back on the past year, what has changed the most in your life?
I think the biggest change is that I’m much more confident now. When I first came to the Czech Republic, I was really shy. Everything was new and I wasn’t sure if I was doing things the right way. I even used to get nervous talking to my managers or colleagues.
Now I don’t feel like that anymore. At university I’ve led academic projects, I can talk to new people without overthinking it too much and I feel much more comfortable with myself. I still have a lot to learn, but when I compare myself to the person who first arrived here I can really see the difference.
What has been the most difficult moment of the past year?
I think the hardest moment was my appendix surgery. It wasn’t a major surgery but it was the first time I had to go through something like that without my family.
Whenever I got sick in Nepal my parents were always there to look after me. This time I was in the hospital alone and I just kept thinking about them. I wished they were there with me. I think that was the moment I missed home the most. At the same time it made me realize that I can handle difficult situations on my own even if they’re not easy.
What achievement or moment are you the most proud of?
I’m proud that I kept going with my studies. There were stressful moments and sometimes I missed home a lot but I never wanted to give up. Every exam I passed and every challenge I got through made me feel a little more confident. When I look back now I feel proud of how far I’ve come.
If you could give advice to yourself on the day you arrived in the Czech Republic, what would you say?
I would tell myself not to be so scared. It’s okay to make mistakes because that’s how you learn. I would also tell myself not to think so much about what other people might think of me. Everything feels difficult in the beginning but with time it becomes normal. I would just say “Trust yourself. You’re going to be okay.”
Life in the Czech Republic
Do you feel more at home in the Czech Republic today than you did a year ago?
Yes, definitely. I think the Czech Republic has become my second home. I don’t think there was one moment when I suddenly felt at home. It just happened little by little. I got used to university, work and my daily life here.
I also met many kind people. One day at my job at Mango I was working when a Czech woman asked me if I was tired. We started talking and she asked where I was from and what I was doing here. Then she said that if I ever needed help navigating things here, I could always ask her. I told her I’d already been here for almost two years, and we both laughed. It was just a small conversation but I still remember it because she was genuinely kind. Moments like that make living far from home a little easier.
What still surprises you about life in the Czech Republic?
I’m still surprised by how organized everything is. I also like how people respect rules and each other’s personal space. It was very different from what I was used to, but now it’s something I really appreciate.
What do you miss the most about Nepal?
I miss my family the most. I also miss our festivals, the hills and mountains, and just being around people who have known me my whole life. And of course, I miss Nepali food. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away.
Is there any Czech tradition, habit, or food that you have grown to love?
I really like that people say “Dobrý den” no matter where and whom that simple habit really impressed me because it shows respect. And I have to say, I really like Czech dumplings, especially the vegetarian ones.
Is there something about Czech culture that you still find confusing or difficult to understand?
At first, I felt that people here were more reserved than in Nepal. Back home it’s quite normal to start talking to someone you don’t know but here it took me some time to get used to that. But once you get to know Czech people, they’re really kind and supportive. I think they just take a little more time to open up.
Studies and career
How are your studies going?
My studies are going really well, and I’m happy with my GPA too. Every semester I learn something new. Of course, there are difficult subjects and stressful exam periods but I enjoy learning. I think university has helped me grow not only academically but also as a person.
Which subjects do you enjoy the most and why?
Lately, I’ve been enjoying accounting the most. I never studied it in high school, so when I started university, it was completely new for me. At first I thought it would be really difficult, but the more I learned the more I started enjoying it. Now it’s one of the subjects I look forward to.
What have you learned during the past year, not only at university but also about yourself?
I think I’ve learned that I’m stronger than I thought. Living in another country teaches you a lot because you have to figure out many things by yourself. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to ask for help when I need it.
What kind of job or internship would you like to have in the future?
I’d like to work as an accountant in an international company where I can keep learning and improving. I also like meeting people from different countries and cultures, so I’d love to work in that kind of environment.
How do you imagine your future career?
I hope I’ll have a career where I’m always learning something new. I want to become really good at what I do and take on more responsibility over time. I also hope that one day I can help other young people the way people have helped me.
Growing stronger
When we first met, you told me that making friends was difficult for you. Has this changed?
Yes, I think it has changed a lot. I’m still a little shy when I meet someone for the first time but it’s much easier than before. I’ve made some really good friends at university and at my current workplace. It took time but now I have people I can laugh with ask for help and spend time with and that makes a big difference.
How would you describe yourself today?
I think I’m more confident, more independent, and more open than I was a year ago. I’m still the same person, but I’ve grown a lot. I don’t doubt myself as much as I used to and I’m more willing to try new things even if they feel a little scary.
Do you think you have changed during the past year? If yes, in what ways?
Yes. I think I’ve learned to trust myself more. Before I always wondered if I was making the right decision. Now I still have doubts sometimes but I don’t let them stop me. I’ve realized that it’s okay not to have everything figured out and I just keep moving forward.
What gives you strength when life becomes difficult?
Hope gives me strength. Whenever I’m having a difficult time I remind myself why I came here in the first place. I think about my family and everything they’ve done for me and I think about the future I’m trying to build. That keeps me going.
I’m also grateful for the people who have supported me along the way. Knowing that there are people who believe in me gives me even more motivation to keep going.
The power of support
Last year, Accace decided to support your studies. What did this support mean to you?
It meant so much to me. Of course the financial support helped a lot, but it also meant that someone believed in me and my potential. That gave me a lot of confidence and motivated me to work even harder.
How did this support affect your life?
It made my life much easier because I could focus more on my studies instead of worrying so much about finances. It also gave me more motivation to do well because I wanted to make the most of the opportunity I was given.
What would you like to say to people and organizations that support young people in education?
I just want to say thank you. Sometimes you may not realize how much your support means to someone but it can completely change a person’s life. Education opens so many doors and by helping one student you’re helping them build a better future.
To every girl reading this…
At what moment did you realize that you wanted to choose your own path in life?
I don’t think there was one specific moment It was something I realized while growing up. I saw many women around me working incredibly hard every single day. They would cook for their families, work in the fields, look after cows, buffaloes and goats, cut grass for them, and then come home and continue taking care of everyone else. I really respect them because I know how much they sacrifice for their families.
But seeing that also made me realize that I wanted something different for myself. I wanted to study, have my own career, and be able to make my own decisions. I knew education would give me that opportunity so I decided to follow that path.
What gave you the courage to fight for the life you wanted, even when it meant leaving behind everything you knew?
It wasn’t an easy decision because I had never been so far away from my family before. But I knew that if I didn’t try I would always wonder what could have happened.
I believed that education could change my life, and that gave me the courage to leave my comfort zone. It was scary in the beginning, but looking back now I know it was the right decision.
If a young girl somewhere in the world is reading your story right now and feels that her future is being decided by others, what would you like her to know?
I would tell her not to stop believing in herself. Sometimes life won’t be easy, and people may tell you that your dreams are too big, but don’t let that stop you.
If you get the opportunity to study, learn as much as you can. Believe in yourself, work hard, and don’t be afraid to choose your own path. It may not be easy but it will be worth it.
Thank you, Aarati, for your openness and for sharing your journey with us.
This interview continues the story we first shared in Meet Aarati: Light from Nepal, where we described why Aarati left Nepal and how her new life in the Czech Republic began. We are publishing this next chapter in both Czech and English so that it can reach girls beyond the Czech Republic — perhaps even someone who is facing a similarly difficult decision today.
The name Aarati is connected to a Hindu ritual of light that drives away darkness. We hope her story can bring a little light into the lives of other girls who are searching for the courage to choose their own path.
What can you do?
👉 If Aarati’s story spoke to you, please consider sharing it. It may reach a young woman who needs to hear that the future others have chosen for her does not have to be the only future available to her.
👉 If you would like to offer Aarati a relevant internship, a junior accounting role, or another opportunity connected to her studies, I’d be happy to connect you with her. Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
👉 And if you or your organization are thinking about how to create fairer opportunities for people whose potential is too often overlooked, we would be happy to support you with diversity, equity and inclusion. Support can take many forms — education, mentoring, work experience, financial help, or simply believing in someone’s potential. Do not underestimate the difference it can make.
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