Redefining what a ‘chori manche’ can be

For many Nepali women, ambition necessitates leaving home, whether for education, career opportunities in the capital, or a better future abroad. This distance, however, brings its own pressures: the need to succeed, adapt, and justify the decision to leave. It also entails the loneliness of being in unfamiliar environments where one's background and experiences are not understood.

It is within this context of tension that Chori Beyond Borders, an initiative by Krishma Subedi, was founded. While seemingly focused on mentorship and opportunity for young Nepali women, the initiative delves deeper, questioning how young women can develop beyond geographical and societal boundaries without becoming disconnected from their core selves. The program connects women aged 18 and above, referred to as "Choris," with accomplished Nepali women living abroad for one-on-one virtual mentorship.

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That’s when I understood the need for a space like Chori Beyond Borders, to really see someone who looks like you and comes from a place like you, a space where you’re reminded of your own direction and dreams, not just your circumstances.

Subedi, a first-generation student who graduated outside Nepal, recognized the need for such a space. She observed how practicalities like visas and stability often overshadowed dreams in decision-making, leading to adaptation rather than conscious choice. "That’s when I understood the need for a space like Chori Beyond Borders," she stated, "to really see someone who looks like you and comes from a place like you, a space where you’re reminded of your own direction and dreams, not just your circumstances."

The term "borders" in the initiative's name initially referred to connecting Nepali women across countries. However, Subedi realized that these borders were also emotional, social, and internal. They encompassed societal expectations, limiting comments, class differences, exposure, language barriers, family pressure, and fear. These invisible borders, she explained, are what the initiative aims to help women cross: the divide between who they were told to be and who they can truly become.

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I think the borders we’re trying to help women cross are these invisible ones, between who they were told to be and who they can actually become.