Beyond Comfort Zone

Renuka Gharti Magar’s journey began in a small village called Rampur in western Dang, where she was a shy student at Shree Janjyoti Secondary School. Sitting at the back of the classroom, she was often overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy, keeping her questions to herself and believing she wasn't as capable as her peers. Everything changed when Teach For Nepal (TFN) fellows arrived. Her mentor, Prawin sir, challenged her to look within and discover her true identity. This encouraged Renuka to step out of her comfort zone, eventually leading her to become a goalkeeper of the school football team despite her height and serve as the President of Redcross Nepal. She learned that winning wasn't the goal—it was the courage to try and the resilience to get back up after failure. Driven by a desire to learn about the world, Renuka applied for the Udaan Higher Secondary Scholarship. Impressed by her ability for introspection and critical thinking, she was selected by the Udaan Learning Foundation. The scholarship brought her to Kathmandu. Though the move to the city initially shook her confidence, the resilience she built in Dang helped her find her footing once again. Today, Renuka is a Grade 11 Management student living at the Dostel Living and Learning Center (LLC). Supported by Udaan and Dostel, she has transformed into a curious leader who is no longer afraid to ask questions. Her "hidden identity" is now a light she carries with her every day. Renuka is now committed to working hard to pay it forward. She dreams of working for underprivileged children, using the power of education to help them find their own voices just as she found hers.