As an undocumented Tibetan in Nepal, Khando faced significant challenges shared by many in her community. The lack of proper documentation severely limited her access to education, banking services, and job opportunities, making it difficult to envision a stable future, especially given her modest family background.

However, Khando’s journey took a positive turn with support from The Tibet Fund. Through a vocational education scholarship, she enrolled in a bakery and barista course at a training institute in Dehradun. There, she excelled and topped her class, earning an apprenticeship at a prestigious five-star hotel in Chennai. Unfortunately, health issues forced her to discontinue that opportunity.

Thanks to her perseverance and reputation as an exceptional student, Khando’s former instructors stepped in to help her secure an apprenticeship at the Claridges in Delhi, another prestigious five-star hotel. She joined a six-month training program in the bakery section, gaining valuable hands-on experience that led to a full-time job, setting her firmly on the path to becoming an accomplished professional baker.

Khando’s inspiring journey has taken her from her small hometown in Nepal to the vibrant city of Delhi, where she passionately pursues her dream of owning her own bakery and building a successful business one day. Despite the challenges of living alone in a bustling city without relatives, she cherishes the experience and the promising future ahead in a field she truly loves. She believes her vocational education has provided a strong foundation for her journey, paving the way for a brighter future where she can thrive and inspire others.

While the struggles of undocumented refugees in Nepal continue, The Tibet Fund’s vocational scholarships offer many young individuals the opportunity to carve out a better future for themselves, just as Khando is doing.