A Social Activist: Anuradha Koirala

“Just imagine what would happen if your daughter was standing there. What would you do, how would you fight? So you have to join hands, you have to take each child as your daughter. Soon you will feel their sorrow and then you will feel the strength that comes out of you to protect them.”

‘Savior’ to thousand of girls who were forced to be sex slave for years, Anuradha Koirala is a true blessing to our country. Founder and Executive Director of Maiti Nepal, she devoted her life to save women and children from human traffickers. Honored with a number of awards including, Mother Teresa Awards, Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award and Padma Shri Awards, Ms Koirala became CNN Hero in year 2010. Up until now, she has received thirty-eight national and international awards.

Anuradha Koirala began the journey of her life on 14th of April, 1949 as a beloved daughter of Laxmi Gurung and Colonel Pratap Singh. Born and raised in the hill station of Kalimpong, India, she pursued her education through St. Joseph Convent School where she discovered her passion for social work. Married at a very young age, her nuptial ended in a bad note. Domestic violence survivor, Anuradha had nowhere to go and in that moment, she felt the need of an organization that would help homeless women.

Ms. Koirala established ‘Maiti Nepal’ in 1993 with little saving she had. Initially, she helped eight victims of domestic violence to be independent by running their own shop. Slowly the organization grew and eventually was backed by UNICEF. Started in a small house, Maiti Nepal now has multiple branches and provides an array of services. It has been conducting a number of activities such as women empowerment, social awareness, skill development and counseling since decades. It also provides anti-retroviral therapy to those affected by HIV AIDS.

The organization does not just save innocent girls from being the slaves of sex market but also rescue and support those women who have already been through that hell. Women, returned from the Indian brothels are not accepted easily by society in fact by their own family. In this case, Maiti Nepal provides them both shelter and trainings until they become capable of living all by their own. In addition to this, Maiti Nepal has been working on patrolling Indo-Nepal border with law enforcement authorities and police. The organization have helped rescue and rehabilitate thousands of girls and women till date. Currently, it is operating rehabilitation home and an academy in Kathmandu, preventive homes in rural areas and transit homes at the border of Nepal and India.dha Koirala is a true blessing to our country. Founder and Executive Director of Maiti Nepal, she devoted her life to save women and children from human traffickers. Honored with a number of awards including, Mother Teresa Awards, Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award and Padma Shri Awards, Ms Koirala became CNN Hero in year 2010. Up until now, she has received thirty-eight national and international awards.

Anuradha Koirala began the journey of her life on 14th of April, 1949 as a beloved daughter of Laxmi Gurung and Colonel Pratap Singh. Born and raised in the hill station of Kalimpong, India, she pursued her education through St. Joseph Convent School where she discovered her passion for social work. Married at a very young age, her nuptial ended in a bad note. Domestic violence survivor, Anuradha had nowhere to go and in that moment, she felt the need of an organization that would help homeless women.

Ms. Koirala established ‘Maiti Nepal’ in 1993 with little saving she had. Initially, she helped eight victims of domestic violence to be independent by running their own shop. Slowly the organization grew and eventually was backed by UNICEF. Started in a small house, Maiti Nepal now has multiple branches and provides an array of services. It has been conducting a number of activities such as women empowerment, social awareness, skill development and counseling since decades. It also provides anti-retroviral therapy to those affected by HIV AIDS.

The organization does not just save innocent girls from being the slaves of sex market but also rescue and support those women who have already been through that hell. Women, returned from the Indian brothels are not accepted easily by society in fact by their own family. In this case, Maiti Nepal provides them both shelter and trainings until they become capable of living all by their own. In addition to this, Maiti Nepal has been working on patrolling Indo-Nepal border with law enforcement authorities and police. The organization have helped rescue and rehabilitate thousands of girls and women till date. Currently, it is operating rehabilitation home and an academy in Kathmandu, preventive homes in rural areas and transit homes at the border of Nepal and India.