THE WALK OF LIFE  

Kalu Man Majhi knows the rhythm of the Sunkoshi like the back of his hand. With the title Majhi you must have known his profession. For him, the river has always been a story of abundance—that has fed him, his family, and his ancestors for generations. It was never just a place or another river; but a lifeline. But somewhere along the way, that sacred connection began to unravel. 

Fishing, which had once been a daily blessing, became an increasing struggle. The ecosystem was disrupted, fish became scarcer, and Kalu’s nets, which once pulled in 20-21 kg of fish without effort now only retuned a disappointing 3-5 kg. 

Just when things seemed as though they couldn’t get worse, the flood came. 

In September 2024, the Rapti River, which Kalu had always known to be a source of life, turned into a force of nature, overwhelming everything in its path. A torrential downpour filled the river to its breaking point, and floodwaters swept through Kalu’s community, destroying homes, crops, and livelihoods. The flood left behind a trail of devastation, but amidst the wreckage, Kalu saw something unexpected: piles of plastic bottles, debris, and pollution—evidence of the river’s new burden. 

But Kalu is not a man who gives up easily. In the face of his despair, he remembered something he has recently learned. 

Earlier that year, Project CAP had reached out to the community and provided Kalu with training in sustainable practices. The program had introduced him to the idea that waste could be more than just something to discard—it could be a resource. Kalu had been given a special net, not for fishing fish, but for collecting plastic bottles. At the time, it had seemed like small task, a side project at best. But now, in the midst of the flood’s destruction, it became his lifeline. 

Kalu began to use the net to collect the PET bottles carried by the floodwaters. What had once seemed like a strange and unfamiliar task now felt like a renewed purpose. The bottles weren’t just trash; they were valuable. Every bottle Kalu retrieved could be sold, providing him with much-needed income. Slowly, the extra income gave him back the sense of control he had lost. 

Kalu’s relationship with the river was changing. Though it no longer offered him the same abundant catch of fish, the river had brought him an unexpected opportunity to support his family. The floodwaters that had once felt like a devastating force now seemed to carry with them a new chance for renewal. Every day, as Kalu pulled more bottles from the water, he began to feel like he was making a difference, even if just a small one, in the face of such overwhelming loss. 

Through Project CAP, Kalu had not just learned how to survive—he had learned how to rise again. His nets no longer just caught fish, but the resilience he needed to push forward. With every bottle he collected, Kalu was helping to restore the river he had known for so long, giving back to the ecosystem that had once given him so much. 

Kalu’s story is more than a tale of survival. It is one of rediscovery—of finding hope in what others may see as ruin, of seeing opportunity where other’s only see waste. Kalu may not fish the way he once did, but now, he is a restorer—a protector of the river, his community, and his future. 

With every PET bottle he collects, Kalu is creating not just a cleaner river, but a brighter tomorrow for his family and everyone who has ever depended on the river’s flow. 

The river may have changed, but Kalu’s spirit—like the water itself—will always find a way to flow.