Laxmi's Story | Humans of Harehills

"I moved to England from Nepal back in 2011. I lived in London for 10 years, then Bradford, Rotherham, and now Leeds. I came to Harehills 2 months ago, so I’m new here. When I came here, I didn’t know anyone, so I joined a local women’s group. It’s something that makes me feel really proud and has given me a strong sense of belonging. It’s amazing to see all these women in our community come together to support one another. The ladies share their stories - about their stresses, their life journeys - and that’s exactly the kind of connection I’ve been looking for.

Harehills has a mixed community. The community here has inspired me to step out, get involved, and learn from the many different cultures. What’s beautiful is that we have so many similarities. I speak Urdu, Nepalese, and basic English. I learnt Urdu after living in England for 13 years. I have a lot of Indian and Pakistani friends, and I watched a lot of Bollywood movies - that’s how I picked it up.

I believe in God and in myself. That’s what shapes my daily life. I’ve also found joy in yoga and swimming - things that make me feel good. Moving to a new place didn’t scare me. I’ve always been used to moving from one place to another. I have my daughter with me, she’s like my friend now. She’s turning six, and we have a lot of fun together. She’s a chatterbox, always talking, and I love that about her."

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