Leki Lhaden,23 was born with a condition known as stuttering or in simple terms speech fluency disorder. She faces difficulty in maintaining rhythm or flow of speech. She speaks with repetitions, hesitations and prolongations of words.     

Born with such a condition, life was doomed, so people around her thought. Person with a disability finds it hard to fit in the society, even harder to stand on their own feet, she shared. “But I didn’t succumb to such a fate. Not deterred at all,” she confronted it head on with all her might. Soon, she could turn the odds into her favour.     

Today, Leki Lhaden runs a successful tailor shop at Babesa, Thimphu. She is not only able to live a decent life but also provides employment to three other people – one of whom is a person with a disability like her. 

“I first got enrolled in Changangkha School and studied there from 2010 till 2015,” Leki narrated her life story. The school provided a special education for children with disability. She said that education was the launchpad for her life.     

She went on to join Draktsho Vocational Training Center for Special Children and Youth. “That’s the exact kind of center for people with special needs like us,” Leki snorted. It is in Draktsho, she acquired many vocational and work skills, learning to become self-reliant and live a contented life. She took interest particularly in tailoring class preparing for self-employment. 

In 2018, when she was in Draktsho, she got a rare opportunity to represent our country in the Special Olympics overseas. She participated in the 100m race and brought home a gold medal.         

Compassionate of her condition and encouraged by her determination, many benefactors come forward to help her set up a tailor shop. “Draktsho and erstwhile MoLHR provided training and funding support,” she said with deep gratitude. “My parents, ofcourse, were always there and helped me big,” she added. 

Today, she makes an income of a thousand or more in a day from her tailor shop. “After paying rent and other expenses, I still get to keep Nu. 4000 to 5000 for myself,” she shared. “We sew innovative handicraft products like laptop bag, pot rest, school and toiletries pouches, in addition to regular stitches such as Tego, Wonju and other attires for women.      

“Disability has been a blessing in disguise for me,” Leki agreed, adding that when people with no disability find it hard to survive and be self-reliant, she is proud, she could achieve so much for herself. But she is particularly concerned about divorced women and children of separated parents. “Besides helping people of special needs like myself, I also look forward to helping make them able to be self-reliant and live a contented life, Leki concluded. 

By Content Writer – Ugyen Tshering