for Sushma Barakoti
by GVP Form 3 Aya,
Bayan, Bhimala, Furaha, Ghina, Hala, Mapendo,
Nor, Nour K., Sandiya, Sara, Sarmila, Sergine, Suzan
w/ Elise Witt, Linda Parisi, Cindy Stark Reid, Julie Martin, Marianne Dhillon
© Non Si Sa Mai Music ASCAP
SUSHMA’S STORY
I’ve always been interested in many different things
I’ve wanted to be a doctor and a farmer
And work in agriculture
My favorite color is yellow
My superpower is invisibility!
My name is Sushma Barakoti.
I am from Nepal.
My mom and dad grew up in Burma
But they are from Nepal.
You ask how I met my husband
We worked together at United Nations
We moved to the US but we didn’t get married
I wanted to study and work for a while.
We got married when I was 32
I married when I wanted to!
When I arrived in the USA
I had no full time job
I wanted to contribute to women in Nepal
So I brought arts and crafts from Nepal to sell
When I was getting my Masters, I thought in Nepali,
When I did my homework, I translated to English
I was always so tired…
My husband said “You have to think in English!”
Now I can think in English and Nepali
I’m Director at the Refugee Women’s Network,
We help with health and hygiene,
Education and finances,
We encourage women to come out of the house,
To talk and socialize and learn from each other
We can help your moms and sisters find jobs
My daughter Amaya is 13 years old
She loves violin
And drama and gym… nastics
My son’s name Atulia means “”incomparable” and
“unique”
He loves violin and soccer, and he loves to argue
I told him he should be a lawyer
My favorite law is the VAW
That’s the Violence Against Women Act
It protects women in so many different ways.
Domestic violence is now a crime
If I could change anything in Georgia
I would change the healthcare system.
We need to expand Medicare
And make health care for everyone
Yes make health care for everyone!
“Sushma’s Story” sung by GVP Form 3 2018-2019