12/05/2026
โIf it wasnโt for my school principal, my mother, and my younger sister, I would have never gone to school. I was born with severe physical and speech disabilities. My older brotherโs condition was even more severe; he could not walk at all.
My father never accepted our disabilities and refused to let us study. Whenever my younger sister went to school, Iโd watch her and the other children with longing. My mother couldnโt go against my father, But she bought me a chalkboard and taught us whatever she knew, and my little sister in PP would teach us too.
Eventually, my father left us, and life became even harder. My mother finally took my brother and me to the local school in our remote village in Dagana. The walk took nearly an hour. She carried one child on her back and the other in her arms.
At first, the principal refused because the school was not equipped for children with disabilities. But my brother and I answered his questions confidently in the little English we knew. Impressed, Principal Choney Norbu decided to give us a chance. It became one of the happiest moments of our lives.
Our mother worked tirelessly to support us, while the principal gave us extra classes to help us catch up. At that time, neither of us could walk properly, and my brother crawled to move around. To help him, principal sir made a pair of wooden crutches for him. Heโd take us to the football field and encourage us to walk every day, slowly helping us build strength and confidence.
Some classmates mocked us. Some parents even warned their children not to befriend us, believing our disabilities were contagious. Because school was far from home, the village community helped build us a small hut near the school where my mother stayed with us.
Despite the hardships, I studied hard. After high school, I could not afford college. I had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, but my family had no money. While searching for opportunities, I found the Disabled Peopleโs Organization. They supported my Tally course and later hired me as an accountant.
Today, I work to support my family and help people with disabilities who are struggling. Without Principal Choney Norbu of Nichula School, my teachers, my mother, my sister, and my community, I would not be where I am today.โ
Tikaโs life was changed when people around her chose kindness over discrimination. Disable Peopleโs Organisation is doing amazing work to uplift people like Tika. You can do your part. Donate now through the link
https://membership.dpobhutan.org/donate/one-time
