Since the day of the interview we were filled with anticipation and we couldn’t wait for the apprentice program to start. Two days before our program started our ambassador called in a meeting for a coffee to get four of us familiar with the environment that we will be working on. Then came the day it all started, we were first given an inspired, coffee motivated mugs with our name written on it. One of the Inspire 2022 team’s alumni visited to talk about his experience with the program and how he moved from knowing nothing to working as a full stack developer in a business environment. He gave us an overview of the team’s experience from the start and guided us through his Inspire journey. As a team, we were inspired after learning about their experience. we played UNO (everyone with their own set of rules) and engaged in other enjoyable activities to break the discomfort.
We were stunned by the amount of talk about “playbacks” and “community partner meetings” in the next sessions. Thinking about the playbacks made us both anxious and eager. The first community partner meeting was scheduled between the Inspire team and community partners and then came the CHAOS.
Mr. Ujjwal Shrestha was anticipating a word from our community partner during the lunch break of the newly beginning week, but instead we received alarming news about the continuing GEN Z demonstration. Everything had been arranged for the sprint. Since the government had blocked all other social media platforms, we were on break and most of us were interested in the demonstration. As we watched it live on TIKTOK, we happened to see the first student shot while demonstrating against corruption. The police officers shot him in the head. While watching the live video we could witness the unfortunate death of a few other students as well. Live metal bullets were found to be used instead of rubber bullets. We were traumatised by what occurred. We were eagerly waiting for the updates but still we were trying to learn and focus on the sessions that was being carried out. Death toll was 19 when we called it a day.
We received a text that our office will be closed until further notice because of the unfortunate news. The GEN Z peaceful protest turned violent the next day. Parliament building was burnt down, houses of corrupted leaders were vandalised and burnt down. The ministers were running for their lives, protesters and police officers were unalived. The parliament dissolved and curfew was implemented all over the country. We had never imagined that something like this would happen. The death toll reached 72 by the second day. Our office remained closed for 4 days.
Bad days are usually short-lived. Similarly, our country’s first female prime minister was elected, and things seem to have significantly calmed down. We were looking forward to a crucial introductory session with the Canadian team, but we missed it. We are working to catch up on the unfinished business as we embark on this new chapter.
Eventually everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.