b'first person WORKING MOMPHOTOS BY NARENDR A SHRESTHABishnus income from her dairy farm ensures her daughters, below, continue their education and pursue their dreams.ON EARLY WINTER MORNINGS, AMID DARK SKIES AND BITTER COLD, Bishnu Chopai would wake up, milk her buffaloes, tie the cans with a namlo, a head strap worn across the forehead, and trudge through steep forest trails to reach the nearest milk collection center in Kushma, Nepal. With her husband, Hari, working in India, Bishnu carried the responsibility of earning a daily income and caring for their children.My husband went to India for employment, Bishnu shared, referring to the difficult time they spent away from each other to earn and support their family. I would constantly wish we could all come together to do something.nutritious vegetables in her garden. She now delivers the After spending years apart, Bishnu and Hari decided tomilk from her farm to a nearby dairy where it is picked up by prioritize being together and growing their dairy farm toher cooperatives collection truck and transported to market. provide for their household. Their hard work, the supportToday, the milk produced at her farm brings sufficient of their community and Heifer allowed them to realize thisincome for her family. From this income, we educate dream. our children, we cover the household expenses, basically With Heifers support, Bishnu learned how to careeverything we need, Bishnu explained. When we all share for her livestock, including how to grow fodder, providethe workload, that makes [the] work easy as well, and [that] health services and prepare manure from waste to cultivatemakes me happy.n24| SPRING 2023'