Interview with Maggie Namjou

In modern, progressive countries such as the United States, slavery is a horror experienced only in textbooks. But in the country of Nepal, a form of slavery still exists and remains a plague. This type of slavery, known as Kamaiya, is bonded labor not limited to adults: many children are forced to become kamaiyas, the term used to define those entrenched in Kamaiya.

Fortunately, individuals such as Maggie Namjou exist to combat Kamaiya and other forms of slavery via a plethora of productive and inspirational methods.

Maggie Namjou’s schedule is always full, but she was recently able to talk with me about some of the programs and practices she has applied in Nepal to make Kamaiya a relic of the past.

Interviewer: What was the inspiration for your organization, the Aastha House?
Maggie Namjou: I’ve spent many years traveling and living abroad, and a great many of those years have been spent in Nepal. Many areas of the country have progressed, but I was horrified to see a form of slavery still in existence. It’s a topic most Americans only read about in textbooks, but Kamaiya, a type of slavery rooted in bonded labor, is still prevalent.

Even more discouraging than Kamaiya’s existence was the bonding of children. So, I founded the Aastha House, which translates to “House of Faith and Hope,” in 1997 as a means of fighting back against Kamaiya. The Aastha House is a nonprofit organization totally funded by myself. Its primary purpose is to provide a safe haven for street children who were formerly kamaiyas.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about some of the programs offered by Aastha House?

Maggie Namjou: Aastha House provides a number of different programs that are oriented toward preparing the children to put their past behind them and look toward a brighter future. We have medical care, education, and even vocational training. Oftentimes, former kamaiyas get little education, if any. For these individuals, we have an educational program that offers basic literacy skills in addition to classes covering personal care and hygiene, which is a concern for former kamaiyas. The classes are drop-in, meaning new students can join at any time and be brought up to speed at their own pace.

We are also proud to have offered scholarships to 175 girls who have been able to rise above their pasts and learn that dreams can not only be chased, but realized.

Interviewer: Can you tell us more about what the girls experience while involved with Aastha House?

Maggie Namjou: The skills we teach encompass informal education and income-generating skills. Being equipped with education and the skills required to become self-sufficient is very empowering to these women and children, who have spent a great many years working for someone else’s benefit. I’m so proud of what the Aastha House has been able to accomplish. It is my pride and joy.

Interviewer: Do you facilitate programs outside of Aastha House?

Maggie Namjou: Quite a few, actually! Kalimati is a slum area in Kathmandu, Nepal, where I serve hot lunches to people in need of food. Another of my programs focuses on rescuing girls from Kamaiya and aiding them in getting an education.

I was also part of the founding of a women’s cooperative effort in southern Nepal that supplies jobs for women. The jobs they perform are deeply rooted in their culture and customs: for centuries, women have painted traditional designs on their homes. The women helped the cooperative paint those same designs and sell them as artwork. Much of the artwork is available at free trade shops located in Europe and the United States. I am very proud of what I was able to do to help these women play supporting roles in their families, and to see how happy they were at creating something of their very own.

Finally, I also volunteer at Animal Nepal, an animal shelter dedicated to humanely managing Nepal’s many streets dogs. Using the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, Animal Nepal is trying to create a rabies-free breeding zone.

American Anthropological Association (AAA)

I am a member of the American Anthropological Association, which was founded in 1902 and has since grown into the world’s largest collection of anthropologists. When AAA was founded, there were other anthropological groups in the United States, but they lacked a national focus. AAA was thus created to join anthropologists across the country, allowing them to coordinate their research, network for new projects, and encourage the formation of more local societies. The association now oversees American Anthropologist, a periodical originally created by the Anthropological Society of Washington 14 years prior to the launch of AAA. Holding 175 members at its inception, the American Anthropological Association slowly increased in size through the early 1900s. After 1950, the number of members began to grow rapidly, and the organization now claims over 10,000 anthropologists. Though anthropologist Franz Boas wanted to restrict membership in AAA to a group of 40 highly regarded anthropologists, the organization’s first president, W. J. McGee, championed a more inclusive society that would accommodate all those with an interest in the field of anthropology. AAA operates according to a democratic model and endeavors to provide equal representation of each branch of the discipline. The American Anthropological Association’s annual meetings draw over 5,000 anthropological professionals over 5 days filled with hundreds of sessions, including presentations and lectures. This year will mark the 109th Annual Meeting, which will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the theme of “Circulation.” This meeting will focus on movement, both in relation to time and space and as an organizing principle. The theme of Circulation also addresses boundaries, whether geographic or abstract, such as the boundaries between different academic disciplines and divisions between states and countries. The theme will encourage members to think about what happens when these boundaries begint to blur and what consequences this softening of boundaries will have on future cultural development.

Maggie Namjou’s Blog

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