Jamie Utzinger is focusing her ASIANetwork-Freeman student-faculty fellowship research on the scope of influence of five extraordinary women. She says, “They have done a great deal already, and they continue to influence changes in society. Each is working in a different way to usher in a new era for Nepali citizens – especially women, from creating employment opportunities for the poor to eradicating human trafficking. The women I interview share their life stories with me: how they got to where they are today, how they help create change, and how they continue to foster an equitable society for Nepal.”
While the majority of women in Nepal are from rural areas with little opportunity outside their homes, and the center of life is in the home where their influence is greatest, there is a growing number of women who push for more than just influence in the home. Jamie’s research objective is to learn how these specific women create opportunities for other woman to be independent; how they change lives; how they influence and empower other women.
Jamie writes, “My first interview was with Anuradha Koilara, founder of MAITI Nepal, an organization that rescues women and children from Indian brothels, helps restore their livelihood and dignity, and helps them get on their feet again to start a new life. I also learned that Ms. Koilara was also a 2010 CNN Hero nominee.” Some of Jamie’s conversation with Anuradha Koilara was featured previously in this blog.
Dr. Kundu discusses medical care in Nepal.
Dr. Kundu approaches empowering women in a different way. As a surgeon and the chief of the OB-GYN Department at Patan Hospital, “she guides her doctors and nurses to meet the needs of over a thousand patients a day. I found that her colleagues have so much respect and admiration for her, it appeared to be more like reverence. The reason she became a doctor, not surprisingly, was to help people, to heal their pains. As a Tibetan refugee, she had opportunities to leave Nepal, but she chose to remain to help others with her skills.” Through her efforts, the hospital has grown and improved steadily. She has, as chief administrator for the hospital in previous years, secured a steady stream of funds to expand services, build new hospital departments, and guide the enterprise carefully into the 21st Century.
Reflecting upon her research thus far, Jamie adds, “With an open heart and an open mind, I embarked on an adventure to meet incredible, influential women and learn their stories. . . . What I am discovering is women with dreams larger than life, with a passion to help people unconditionally and improve the quality and equality of their sisters’ lives. They are true heroes – brave crusaders for equality in a world with strong patriarchal customs and systems. Each woman has taught me something different to take back to the West: a new attitude, a new belief, a new appreciation for the world.”
