Stories about children’s days
Sushma, 17 year old girl
About Sushma’s life
Sushma lives with her sister and brother in-law in a two room flat in Kathmandu. Sushma migrated from Eastern Nepal three years ago. She was alone when she first came to Kathmandu. At first she worked in a factory but during the COVID 19 lockdown her factory shut down and it became difficult for Sushma to pay her rent. Sushma then started working in a venue providing massage and spa services.
A neighbour told Sushma about working at the spa, saying how great the pay was. Sushma does not really like working in this sector however and wants to open a beauty parlour eventually. For now she feels she has no choice but to stay where she is.
Sushma pays half the rent on the flat and covers her personal expense including clothing and food. She also pays for her younger brother (16) and sister (14) to go to school. Sushma’s father and stepmother, are negligent towards her siblings. Sushma believes that she will be working in this type of work for a few more years.
Men smoking outside the massage and spa venue
I get quite angry with customers at times because they are stubborn in things they want me to do which I don’t like. They come in after drinking which I find gross.
Broken street lights
Sushma values returning customers over new ones, building good personal relationships with customers is important in her field of work. It is difficult when an unpleasant customer tries to behave badly with her.
Sushma earns between NPR 30,000 (US $230) to NPR 35,000 (US $270) a month. She doesn’t have a contract or specific salary, her earnings are based on how many customers she serves. She keeps 30% of the fee paid by each customer.
In January 2023, Sushma documented a typical day in her life. On this day she was at work for over 10 hours, from 10.30 am to until 8.30pm.
The neighbourhood near the massage and spa venue
“I am providing money for my sister’s and brother’s education, so I need to work.”
Sushma in her workplace
Sushma’s relationships with her colleagues are not that friendly. They are not helpful to her, and they won’t lend her money if she is in need. Sushma likes to help others if she can. But when she lends money to colleagues, they don’t give the money back on time.
Sushma finds her work difficult, and she works very hard. The fact that she doesn’t get any leave from work, unless she is very sick, makes her sad at times.
When Sushma has a mild illness, she is told by the owner to come to work anyway, the owner tells her she will be better off at work, rather than idling around at home. The owner often apprehends Sushma when she makes mistakes.
Inside the massage and spa venue
I don’t want to work in this sector, but I have no other option. I do want to leave this job
Sushma’s day
Grocery shops
Sushma’s experience
I wake up at 7am. I have to go and fetch water, as there is no drinking water in the building where I live. Then I go grocery shopping. I cook in the mornings and my sister does it in the evenings. We have a guest staying at our home today, so I have to cook for him as well. After that I wash dishes and then I leave for work. I only drink tea at home in the morning because I prefer to eat late, so I bring food to work with me.
Researcher’s experience
Sushma is quite busy in the morning, because it is her responsibility to cook, get groceries and wash dishes. She packs lunch to eat at work.
Sushma’s route from home
Sushma’s experience
It takes me about five minutes for me to get to work; even less if I walk fast. The path I take is usually the same. I go to work at around 10am. It is sunny and the road is not too crowded. The back lane I take is kind of narrow so there is not much traffic. The road feels safe during the day. I feel OK.
Although I have many tasks to do at home, I must go to work. On cold days I really don’t want to go but I really have no other option. And I don’t want to take the risk of getting fired or being told off. Not being able to decide for myself when I work makes me very uncomfortable.
Researcher’s experience
Sushma leaves home at 10am. The walking distance from her home to work is about 5 minutes, the route takes her through a narrow lane in the backstreets of the city. The lane is about three metres wide.. Although there are no cars or trucks on the lane motorcycles pass through frequently.
On either side of the street are a variety of establishments – grocery stores, bars, restaurants, hotels and khaja ghars. The lane is abuzz with activity as a diverse array of pedestrians – tourists and locals alike – go about their day.
Sushma’s swollen and aching hands
Sushma’s experience
I get to work at 10:10 am and stay until 8.30pm. Today is a busy day, many customers come in and I am handling the place on my own as the owner is in her village.
I find giving massages tiring, my hands hurt quite a bit. Once my hand got fractured and it still bothers me. So, I have to take frequent rests in between massages.
Even though many customers come in today, I do get to rest in between so I feel OK and reasonably comfortable during the day. In between customers I make a Tiktok video with my friends. I dance and sing. So, I feel OK.
I eat the food I brought from home in the late morning, and I eat snacks. I have to pay for the snacks as the business owner doesn’t buy them. Transportation is also a personal expense but thankfully I live nearby and don’t have to worry about these costs.
I have a good set of customers today – no unruly ones comes in, so I don’t have to speak up for myself or for the other staff. There is a hotel below the massage and spa venue, down on the first floor. It is problematic because of the smoke and hearing the hotel customers swearing, and sometimes they come up here after drinking and cause fights.
Researcher’s experience
Sushma’s boss is in her village and Sushma is in charge of the massage and spa venue.
When we arrive, we are struck by a strong smell of smoke, coming from the hotel downstairs, and we also overhear men talking and swearing loudly. Sushma does not like this aspect of her workplace.
Walking home at night
Sushma’s experience
The journey back home is fine today. As the distance is short, I feel quite safe. I also usually have a friend with me, which helps to alleviate some fears. However, there are certain situations that still make me feel anxious. For example, the fast-moving motorcycles that pass through the lane at night can be intimidating and the narrow path increases the risk of accidents.
I also fear people using foul words, street dogs and there is a 200m section of the road with broken streetlights. This is stressful for me. When fights break out in Khaja ghars (small eateries) along the route I do not feel safe at all.
Researcher’s experience
In the evening Sushma takes the same route that she walks in the morning, but the circumstances at night are slightly different. The lane is not lit for some stretches, and this is unsettling, as the lane is not as lively at night. Most of the shops along it are now shut.
Sushma’s experience
In the morning it’s my job to get groceries, cook food and wash the dishes but in the evening my sister cooks and I have a little bit of time to rest.
Explore Sushma’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.
Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.
Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.