Rent and Medical Treatment for Rukshana's Family
Donation protected
Rukshana Kapali is a 21 y/o transgender woman and activist in Nepal who has been leading voices for transgender and broader LGBTIQ+ rights in Nepal. She currently lives with her ailing parents and a sibling in a rental of two tiny rooms, each barely five feet wide, and an equally tiny kitchen.
Rukshana nor her family has a house of their own. Until the 2015 earthquake they had lived in their Great Grandfather's modest 2 story mud and thatched home. Now they are forced to rent a cement and aluminum house with only 2 tiny rooms and a kitchen total to house and take care of a family of four. (note, this isn't 2 bedroom plus living room or whatever. This is 2 rooms total and a kitchen.)
Rukshana's mum was run to emergency medical attention in 2015 and consequently diagnosed Abdominal Tuberculosis, Gland Tuberculosis, Liver Abscess, Stone in Kidney, Fistula, and several other issues - which led to frequent hospitalizations, treatments and some surgeries. Since 2015 - she is still under follow ups every other week and on heavy medications. With need to pay attention to mom's treatment, her father who is also experiencing health issues - has deliberately not sought medical attention and is casually self-medicating.
Rukshana began working since 2017 - which helped support her family. However, medical bills and housing rent are piling up. This consequently led the family to seek help from loans. First two years of the crisis, Rukshana was still a high school student, she also had to request a partial scholarship at the school. Rukshana's parents ran a tailor where both of them worked - but since her mum cannot work anymore and her father is primary caretaker Rukshana's paycheck became the primary source for the family. Her only sibling is a student, consequently they pulled him from private school to a public school to lower the bill burden.
COVID 19 forced the family to shutter the small tailoring business and become vegetable vendors. However, with many restrictions mean the business still cannot bring in much money. Furthermore, Rukshana's full time job contract ended in July. While the situation of unemployment is massive in Nepal - things are more difficult for Rukshana as a trans person and also someone who's been denied of access to higher education due to her gender identity.
The bill for the housing rent has been pending for three years. The owner has been generous in waiting due to a deep and long lasting affection for the family and their long term as tailoring tenants. However as the money crunch tightens, the owner has been hinting that they must find a new home soon. With three years of pending bills, the family will struggle to find any place they can rent.
Rukshana wants crowdfund to support the clearance of the bills , help her parents find necessary medical care as well as seek a long term solution to their housing and health issues.
300,000 NRS - Would help them overcome the left payment of the house rent.
+ 200,000 NRS - Would help them overcome the loan they'd to take for medical treatments
+ 100,000 NRS - Would help them invest in her mom's treatment and the medical attention she needs for at least a year.
In USD the total, including gofundme fees, bank transfer fees, and incidentals comes to around $5500, with another $500 as buffer. Any additional money would go towards future complete financial independence, such as putting a bank loan down for a house, or paying off all loans, previous rent, and upcoming rent for the next 2 years plus at least 2 more years of medical treatment.
About Rukshana:
Rukshana has been an active advocate for transgender rights in Nepal. She has been co-leading the movement for gender recognition in the forefront and is the first trans woman in Nepal to take a tangible step in filing applications to amend her citizenship to reflect her gender identity. From 2016, she has proven her dedication to the movement and her work can be seen here : Rukshanas Website
She is aiming to be the first openly trans lawyer in Nepal pursuing a law degree.
Rukshana nor her family has a house of their own. Until the 2015 earthquake they had lived in their Great Grandfather's modest 2 story mud and thatched home. Now they are forced to rent a cement and aluminum house with only 2 tiny rooms and a kitchen total to house and take care of a family of four. (note, this isn't 2 bedroom plus living room or whatever. This is 2 rooms total and a kitchen.)
Rukshana's mum was run to emergency medical attention in 2015 and consequently diagnosed Abdominal Tuberculosis, Gland Tuberculosis, Liver Abscess, Stone in Kidney, Fistula, and several other issues - which led to frequent hospitalizations, treatments and some surgeries. Since 2015 - she is still under follow ups every other week and on heavy medications. With need to pay attention to mom's treatment, her father who is also experiencing health issues - has deliberately not sought medical attention and is casually self-medicating.
Rukshana began working since 2017 - which helped support her family. However, medical bills and housing rent are piling up. This consequently led the family to seek help from loans. First two years of the crisis, Rukshana was still a high school student, she also had to request a partial scholarship at the school. Rukshana's parents ran a tailor where both of them worked - but since her mum cannot work anymore and her father is primary caretaker Rukshana's paycheck became the primary source for the family. Her only sibling is a student, consequently they pulled him from private school to a public school to lower the bill burden.
COVID 19 forced the family to shutter the small tailoring business and become vegetable vendors. However, with many restrictions mean the business still cannot bring in much money. Furthermore, Rukshana's full time job contract ended in July. While the situation of unemployment is massive in Nepal - things are more difficult for Rukshana as a trans person and also someone who's been denied of access to higher education due to her gender identity.
The bill for the housing rent has been pending for three years. The owner has been generous in waiting due to a deep and long lasting affection for the family and their long term as tailoring tenants. However as the money crunch tightens, the owner has been hinting that they must find a new home soon. With three years of pending bills, the family will struggle to find any place they can rent.
Rukshana wants crowdfund to support the clearance of the bills , help her parents find necessary medical care as well as seek a long term solution to their housing and health issues.
300,000 NRS - Would help them overcome the left payment of the house rent.
+ 200,000 NRS - Would help them overcome the loan they'd to take for medical treatments
+ 100,000 NRS - Would help them invest in her mom's treatment and the medical attention she needs for at least a year.
In USD the total, including gofundme fees, bank transfer fees, and incidentals comes to around $5500, with another $500 as buffer. Any additional money would go towards future complete financial independence, such as putting a bank loan down for a house, or paying off all loans, previous rent, and upcoming rent for the next 2 years plus at least 2 more years of medical treatment.
About Rukshana:
Rukshana has been an active advocate for transgender rights in Nepal. She has been co-leading the movement for gender recognition in the forefront and is the first trans woman in Nepal to take a tangible step in filing applications to amend her citizenship to reflect her gender identity. From 2016, she has proven her dedication to the movement and her work can be seen here : Rukshanas Website
She is aiming to be the first openly trans lawyer in Nepal pursuing a law degree.
Organizer
Amalia Rubin
Organizer
Ballston Center, NY
