National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Why Study Abroad?

By Amrit Kunwar

Being an international student in the USA, I'd like to tell other students in Nepal how enriching and exciting study abroad can be. Study abroad builds personality and equips people to combat with tough times they experience during their job. The rules and regulations have changed for international students due to security reasons after the event of 9/11, but for qualified students, these changes don't seem to matter. A person studying abroad learns more in the sense that he has to do everything on his own; which makes him more independent. Being independent is the key to successful life as such people can adjust to any new environment and conditions they face during the course of their jobs. If a person studies living together with his parents, he is more likely to depend on his parents for fulfilling most of his daily tasks.

People have a misconception that studying abroad is beyond their reach as the cost is unaffordable, but that is not always true. There are a number of scholarships and financial aid available for students to study abroad. For instance, the university that I am studying at, the University of Wisconsin-Stout provides financial aid to international students equaling $ 4000 per semester. Another example is Winona State University, Minnesota, which provides cross-cultural scholarships to international students. These are only a few types of scholarships available to students in colleges and universities in the US. There are more scholarships for qualified students who not only get full scholarship, but also stipend. The United States Education Foundation (USEF) in Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu can help students with information and assistance for those who want to pursue their education in the USA.

English is the global language today and students can improve their linguistic skills if they go to an English speaking country for studies. However, many colleges and universities have adopted English as their language of instruction, making it easier for students from different countries to understand. They also want to attract international students.

Students and their parents might have their concerns about the availability of their native food abroad and it sure does make a difference. Well, as our food is identical to Indian food, we might not exactly get our food, but we can get abundance of Indian foods. Many major cities around the world also have Nepalese restaurants.

People who have the will to excel in their career should think about studying abroad as there are many co-op and internships available to students and they get paid as well. They can acquire experience from their work in developed countries and apply knowledge and experience in our developing country, to pay off their debt to motherland.

Though, it maybe difficult to adjust oneself to a new environment and to settle down, everything gradually falls in its own place. I'd recommend from my personal experience to students to study abroad. Life maybe a bit tougher abroad than in the home country, but it surely will benefit later in shaping the career and personality.

(Kunwar is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, USA)

Rights Defenders Under Threat

According to the Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists, Human rights defenders in Nepal face grave threats amid the country's deepening human rights crisis.

"The Nepalese government and the United Nations must begin effective implementation of an agreement signed on Tuesday (December 14) providing for UN assistance to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in monitoring human rights," press release from the Amnesty International states.

"Recently a number of human rights defenders, including journalists, lawyers, NHRC staff and local human rights activists, have faced increasing harassment from both security forces and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Human rights defenders have been killed, detained under anti-terrorist legislation, abducted, tortured and threatened, and the offices of human rights organizations have been raided."

"Human rights defenders in Nepal play an indispensable role in protecting people against the appalling abuses committed by both the security forces and Maoist insurgents," said Ingrid Massage, Asia Director at Amnesty International. "Attacks on human rights defenders not only violate their rights, but also greatly increase the vulnerability of all Nepalis."

The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Nepalese government and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) commits the government to accept international assistance to the National Human Rights Commission, but leaves key details to be negotiated.

"Effective human rights monitoring is the key," said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights should ensure a sufficient number and seniority of OHCHR advisers with full access to rural areas. But technical assistance alone will not be enough. The UN Commission on Human Rights will also have to act in the face of escalating gross abuses."