Interview with Bouddhi on education, rights and international cooperation

Vic – Mataró, October 2025

“In Nepal, the community has more weight than the individual”

— When we talk about Nepal, here we often only think about Everest. How would you present your country to someone who doesn’t know it?
Nepal is a small, mountainous country with no access to the sea, located between India and China. To the north are the great mountains; to the south, flatter areas. Economically, many people are still dependent on agriculture and there is very little industry. This is why many young people emigrate abroad to study or work.


— What would you say makes it unique within the Asian context?
Our social harmony. We are a very community and welcoming society. The family and the neighborhood have a huge weight. When I leave the country, this is what I miss most: the feeling of belonging, of being connected to others.


Does this mean that the individual has less autonomy?
Exactly. In Nepal, the basic unit is not so much the individual as the family and the community. Social expectations greatly influence personal life: studies, marriage, life decisions. This has positive aspects, but also limitations, especially for girls.



Religion, identity and coexistence

Nepal is often said to be a Buddhist country because Buddha was born there. Is that so?
Not exactly. More than 80% of the population is considered Hindu. But religion doesn’t work like in the West. There are no formal rituals of adhesion: it is born. In addition, many social groups combine Hindu and Buddhist practices naturally.


— Does this generate religious conflicts?
None. On the contrary, there is a lot of coexistence. Faith is not an element of strong division. It is part of everyday life, not an exclusive identity.



Education of girls: between progress and inequality

— Nepal has improved a lot in schooling. How do you value it?
It is true that we have made great progress, especially in primary education. The Constitution guarantees equality in education and health. But there is a big difference between what the law says and what actually happens.


Where is this gap?
In everyday life. Society is still very patriarchal. Girls have less priority than boys: less educational investment, less freedom of movement, more pressure towards early marriage. Even if it is illegal before the age of 20, a lot happens.


— And what role do NGOs like Chhori and Options Catalunya Nepal play?
Work directly with teenagers, but also with families. It is not enough to empower girls if parents continue to think that the future of the family passes only to their children. Parental education is key.



Sexual and reproductive rights: a taboo topic

- Is there sexual education in schools?
On paper, yes. But many teachers skip this content because society is very closed. It's shameful to talk about it.


- What are the consequences of this?
Many girls do not have basic information about their body, their rights or reproductive health. This increases the risks and greatly limits their autonomy.


— How are NGOs involved?
With a lot of sensitivity: direct training with girls, spaces of trust, and above all working with parents. When families understand these issues better, the pressure for early marriage decreases.



Public policies and reality: a tense relationship

— Are Nepal’s policies favourable to NGOs?
On a legal level, yes. NGOs are recognised as civil society and appear in many national strategies. The problem is implementation.


— What is wrong in practice?
The priorities. Governments—especially local governments—prefer to investing in visible infrastructure: roads, buildings, bridges. Investing in education, rights or people does not give the same immediate political return.


— Does this force NGOs to make an impact?
Constantly. We must press for the revision of old plans, for the activation of strategies that have already been adopted. Sometimes they even ask us to provide resources for the State to do what it has already promised.



International and geopolitical cooperation

Nepal is between two major global actors. How do you live this?
With a lot of tension. On the one hand, there are US programmes, such as the Millennium Challenge Compact; on the other, China with the Belt and Road Initiative. This generates internal debates about sovereignty and political interests.


— Does international cooperation respect local actors?
More and more, at least formally. Since the agreements on aid effectiveness, international NGOs must work with local organisations. Without that, there is no real sustainability.



Youth migration and people trafficking

— Is migration one of Nepal’s biggest challenges?
Yeah. Many young people go abroad. This brings remittances, but also loss of human capital, separate families and serious risks of human trafficking.


— What is the response of civil society?
Working on safe migration, prevention and psychosocial support. Chhori, for example, is an active member of the AATWIN network, against trafficking in women and children.



A lesson for international cooperation

— What should international cooperation in Nepal learn?
Good documents and strategies are not enough. We need to listen to communities, work with local actors and understand culture. Without this, there is no real or sustainable impact.


Interview held on October 14, 2025, within the framework of Bouddhi's visit to Vic and Mataró with Options Catalunya Nepal. Article elaborated from the complete transcription of the conversation.