Gauri Maya Tamang

Gauri Maya Tamang's family is poor. She has eight brothers and sisters, none of whom has ever been to school:

"I was 11 years old when a man from our village told my parents that I could earn good money weaving carpets in Kathmandu. I was so excited; not only about going to the capital but because I would escape the hardship of life at home...

"Our day begins around six in the morning. We have electricity so we can start early and work until late. We usually finish at about ten at night, but we have two one-hour breaks in between. The first is our mid-day meal, at about eleven in the morning, and the second is for our evening meal, at about seven. Our rented room is nearby so we have enough time to prepare and eat our meals.

"I get backaches and coughs. In winters my hands get dry and it's painful to work at the loom..."

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