Stories about children’s days
Simi, 17 year old girl
About Simi’s life
Simi is a single mother to a 3-year-old girl. She rents one room which she lives in with her daughter, her younger brother, and a male friend who are all, at present, financially dependent on her. Simi pays NPR 3,200 (US $24) for the room. Simi is in debt, including to medical shops.
Her days are long, she rises at 07.30 and does not go to bed until midnight. She spends most of her day working at a massage and spa venue. She also undertakes domestic chores and takes care of her daughter.
Simi is from a village in the eastern part of Nepal. Her father used to work as a tailor and the family had some land. Simi lived in the village with her parents and three younger brothers. Everything changed when her mother left the family. Simi left school and started to work at a hotel when she was only eight years old.
Simi carrying her young child
I am tense as I won’t earn if no customers come through to serve. I need to earn. But there are no customers.
Simi had her daughter when she was 14 years old
Simi got married at an early age. The marriage was arranged by her family. Simi was only 13 and husband was almost double her age.
Simi’s husband worked in construction, and after some months of him working away from the village Simi decided to accompany him to Kathmandu, as she did not like living with her in-laws. Things did not go smoothly however; Simi’s husband was not earning very much and Simi soon became pregnant. Simi’s husband became neglectful and by the time Simi gave birth to her daughter (at which point she was 14) she was not receiving any support from her husband or in-laws. Simi returned to her father’s home and started working in a hotel again.
After some time, Simi returned to Kathmandu, this time with the help of a friend who worked in a massage parlour. Simi now works in a massage and spa venue.
“Doing massage takes lots of effort and is tiring”
Interior Massage and spa
Simi in her workplace
Simi does not receive a salary but receives 50% of the fee that each of her customers pay. On November 22, 2022, Simi recorded her day and her experiences. On this day she only served one customer during the eight hours she was at work, and after the owner took her share, Simi was given NPR 600 (US $4). Thus, her whole day’s earnings were only US $4. Simi can earn up to NPR 30,000 (US $228) in a month when business is very good at the massage and spa. But in the winter season her earnings are much reduced because there are fewer customers.
Simi’s focus is on looking after her daughter and providing her with a good education. Currently her daughter goes to a government school where the monthly fee is NPR 500 (US $4). Simi worries about her younger brother as he has dropped out from school and is completely dependent on her. She feels she does not earn enough to be the only breadwinner for her household.
Girls sitting inside massage and spa
Simi’s day
Simi’s experience
I normally wake up at around 7am. My morning is spent cleaning, washing dishes, cooking, and getting my daughter ready for school. I also buy groceries and pack tiffin (a light snack such as chapattis, bread or rice) for my daughter. It’s a big rush in the morning. At 10am I wrap up my domestic work and take my daughter to school.
Simi’s commute by bus
Simi’s experience
I take the bus to work, along with my daughter. Her school is near my work. I do this every day. It is nice when I get a seat. Today, the vehicle is packed but my daughter and I have a seat. I don’t like travelling in a crowded bus with my daughter. After dropping my daughter at her school, I walk to my workplace – it takes about 10 minutes.
Researcher’s experience
Simi usually travels by bus with her daughter. She doesn’t like travelling by bus, especially when it is very crowded. At times she uses Pathao (a motor bike ride-sharing app) to travel to work, but she only does this when she is travelling alone. When she uses Pathao, because she knows the motorbike rider well, she is sometimes able to pay on credit.
Massage spa entrance with narrow stairs
Simi’s experience
I usually reach my workplace at 11am. I start my working day by cleaning and sweeping. All the staff take it in turns to do this each day.
Today, I am feeling tired. I am more tired when I have travelled to work on a crowded bus, it takes all my energy and I feel very sluggish by the time I reach work. After an hour, my boss asks me to go out to get some fresh flowers. It is hot outside and I feel very tired. When I get back, I have a bit of a rest.
There are no customers, and I am feeling bored. I do not have any money to buy snacks. However, the didi (owner) is very kind, and she orders food for me. I then go with my sister (co-worker) to collect our food. It has been a very lazy day so far. I am worried that I will have no money at the end of the day.
I end up with just one customer. The customer wanted a hard massage and I tried to make him happy. I think he was satisfied. He even offered me a tip of 500 rupees (US $3). It’s good to have decent customers. They are not all good, some of them are rude and some of them try to abuse me. I speak to the didi (owner) in such cases. But today, the customer was fine.
Researcher’s experience
Simi is dependent on her earnings from the massage and spa venue, but she is not on a salary, she is paid on commission. Therefore, a day with few customers makes her worried.
Simi is pleased when she gets a customer and she works hard. After that she passes time on her mobile phone, watching and making TikTok videos.
During the day Simi talks on the phone to someone about a loan she needs to repay. She asks for more time to make the payment. Simi also owes NPR 3,000 (US $22.8) to a medical shop.
Simi and her daughter walking along the street
Simi’s experience
Today, my brother has dropped my daughter at my work, and he has just left. My daughter and I travel back home together. It is seven in the evening.
The bus is packed, and I am standing hanging to a rail. This is very uncomfortable and travelling like this with my daughter is very challenging. It takes another 5 minutes to walk home from the bus stop. It is not easy to walk with a child and I am feeling tired.
Simi lives in one room with her daughter and her brother
Simi’s experience
I am feeling exhausted. I go and buy vegetables, then I cook and help my daughter with her homework. I am feeling tense and still there are lots of domestic chores to do.
Simi’s experience
I am worrying about my life. I am trying to sleep but I am not able to.
Explore Simi’s journey
Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.
Arpita, 16, works in a massage and spa venue.
Sushma, 17, works ten hours a day at a massage and spa venue.