2011 Decembe 23

Life was very difficult and uncertain for Hem Raj Gharti Magar. When he was just 7 years old he lost his father. In a remote village in Baglung, one day his father went jungle to collect firewood but he never returned back. He died falling down from a tall tree. 
After the untimely death of the father, the only bread winner in the family, mother Narmala had very hard time to feed and educate all these four tiny children.  Further more; to add problems on trouble; she too got sick of Tuberculosis and died after six months.
The couple had four children. Two girls and two boys. The girls were elder of the children. They both had got married far away in India. Hem Raj was the eldest of the sons. Kul Bahadur was the youngest one. The death of parents brought untold problems to them. Hem Raj, being the elder one, had to look after his brother and did his level best effort though it was hardly enough.
This situation made the local authority to approach to SOS Children's Village Gandaki and finding the case very serious, they were admitted in the village in Manang Family. The admission in the SOS Children's Village turned as antidote of their problems. His previous scars of troubles started to wear off gradually. Hem Raj grew strong, smart and cheerful. He set to shape his future and think ahead of his successful life. He joined SOS Hermann Gmeiner School Gandaki and successfully did his School Graduation with Good First Division. Following this, he joined pre-university course in Science and Technology. 
From his very beginning Hem Raj had aimed to join British Army.  Even before the SLC result was announced he joined Army Training Center. He was so firmly determined and aimed that he changed his name GM for Gorkha Major, a designation in British Army. In his self initiation, he prepared all the documentations made. He could not be selected in first attempt for not having proper documentation. Soon after this, gathering further experiences from failures, he set in the preparation. He moved in the rented room in one of his best friend’s house and set to prepare.
To be selected in the British Army was like dreaming. It is so difficult to come out among so many competitors but however finally his dream came true. May his further dream to be promoted to Gorkha Major come true as well! His success has encouraged all our SOS Youths and entire SOS Children's Village Gandaki Family.