Measuring Dreams & Stitching Confidence: A Didi’s Letter to You

By Sirjana Tamang
Rukmini Foundation Mentor (and former Bahini)

Hi everyone.

Sirjana here. Some of you might have seen my name on our blog posts before. But today, I’m not writing as just a staff member. I’m writing as someone who once sat where our Bahinis sit—nervous, excited, holding a new bag like it was made of gold.

I still remember the day I got my first uniform from Rukmini Foundation. I was a little girl from Kavrepalanchok District, shy and unsure. When the Didis measured my dress, I felt something I couldn’t name back then. Now I know: it was the feeling of being seen. Like someone was saying, “You belong here. Keep going.”

That was years ago. Now I’m the one holding the measuring tape. And honestly? My heart still beats just as fast.

A Day Full of Laughter, Shoes, and Sparkly Stickers

On April 2, 2026, we held our Dress and Shoes Measurement Program for 45 of our Bahinis. They came in with new haircuts, old sandals, and big, bright smiles. Some ran to hug me. Others just stood at the door, shy, like I used to be.

We measured hems. We checked shoe sizes. We handed out bags—the good kind, with room for notebooks and dreams.

But the best part? The chatter.

I sat with them as we waited. The girls told me about their vacations: playing hide-and-seek, helping mom cook dal bhat, fighting with siblings over the TV remote. One little one named Ishika (she’s going to grade 6) grabbed my hand and said:

“Didi, I’m going to put stickers on all my new books! Sparkly ones!”

Ishika taught me something that day. Learning isn’t just about being serious. It’s about joy. It’s about feeling so excited for school that you want to decorate everything.

Then Saraswoti Tamang—she’s a bit older, very wise—told me:

“I have done my best in the examination. I love Didi Programs. New bags, shoes, and dresses inspire us to learn more.”

That hit me right in the chest. Because I used to say those same words. And now I’m hearing them from the girls I once was.

What You Don’t See in the Photos

You’ll see pictures of smiling girls holding shoes. But what you won’t see is the quiet moment when a Bahini whispered, “Didi, my old shoes had a hole.” Or the way another girl traced her fingers over her new bag like it was magic.

You won’t see the mothers who walked an hour just to watch their daughters get measured. Or the women entrepreneurs—graduates from our tailoring training—who are stitching every single uniform right now, turning fabric into futures.

This program isn’t just about dresses. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling a girl: You matter. Your school matters. And we’ve got your back.

Here’s Where You Come In

None of this happens on its own. The fabric, the shoes, the bags, the time our volunteers spend measuring and listening—it all costs something. And right now, as we step into the Nepali New Year and a new academic session, we need your help to keep going.

Will you make a gift today? Even a small donation buys a pair of shoes that fits. A bag that doesn’t have holes. A uniform that makes a girl stand tall instead of hiding in the back.

➡️ Make more dreams possible. ⬅️

When you give, you’re not just buying things. You’re buying a girl’s confidence. You’re telling her: Keep dreaming. We believe in you.

And believe me—I know what that feels like. Because someone did it for me. And now I get to be a Didi for 45 more.

New Year, Same Promise

As we celebrate Nepali New Year, I keep thinking about one thing: a circle. The Didis who helped me. The Bahinis I now help. And someday, these little ones will become Didis too.

That’s the Rukmini way. We don’t just give uniforms. We grow mentors. We grow hope.

Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for even thinking about donating. And if you can’t give right now? Just share this post. Because the more people who know about our Bahinis, the more the circle grows.

With all my heart (and a little bit of happy tears),

Sirjana Tamang
Didi to 45 Bahinis, and many more

📸 See photos from our Dress & Shoes Measurement Program: [Flickr]

🌐 Learn more or donate: www.rukminifoundation.org