Protection and reintegration of Street Children of Kathmandu 

Main activities

1. Support and protection of the children

Work on the streets

Since the children live in the street, it is the place one has to go to meet and get to know them, in order to be responsive to their needs. The streets are surveyed at night by two social workers, who tour the most touristic areas of Katmandu , where small groups of children of various ages spend most of their time.

This allows for the children with the most immediate or urgent needs to be recognized, to inform them of the existence and functioning of the listening and emergency center (Bisaune) and to encourage them to go there. It also allows the workers to be informed on the possible presence of pedophiles living in Katmandu and to inform the children about the dangers of pedophilia.

The welcome at the listening and emergency center

The first of its kind to be founded in Katmandu , this center, called Bisaune (which, in Nepalese, means "to breathe, to rest a bit") is a transition between the street and the homes. It is open 24 hours a day. The children stop by to fulfill their immediate needs: warm up, receive medical care and rest. The children receive basic medical care. It is also a place for the children to talk about their troubles: family problems, exploitation at the workplace, drugs, sexual abuse, prostitution, life on the street, school, their future. Finally, the center gives the children an opportunity to play, draw, participate in outdoor activities, learn to read and write, etc.

The children homes

Two children homes, located approximately 10 km south-west of Katmandu , take in children between 4 and 12 and between 12 and 18. The capacity of each of these homes is 20 children. The goal is to take care of children coming from the street, for whom there is no possibility of returning to their families, even temporarily (too unstructured families, with social problems or children who have no families).

The organization seeks to provide complete care to the children over several years, in some cases until they attain a professional situation allowing them to fulfill their own needs. Currently, a great deal of importance is attached to their education: without exception, all children are provided with education in village schools and the schedules of the homes revolve around school, extracurricular activities, free time, a bit of television, homework and support for school, and meals.

Furthermore, the children benefit from regular medical checkups. Finally, given the difficult experiences of these children, their psychological state must be given a high priority, and support is offered them, particularly in cases of sexual abuse.

Family reintegration

Reintegration of the child into his/her family is, and must remain, the primary help provided to the these children, when possible.

For children to find themselves living in the street, there must have been serious problems or ruptures in the family. Reconciliation with the family is undertaken only if it is judged desirable by the child and his parents/guardians. The success and durability of such an arrangement depends on this.

Family reintegration thus requires preparatory work with the child and the family, followed by a very close review and, in case of failure, financial support, as experience has shown that the living conditions of the family have a direct impact on the worsening of various problems. For example, a simple problem of space can induce certain parents to putting the oldest of their children on the street or asking them to find an orphanage or a children's home. Advice on improving their homes, help finding a new space to rent in a better environment, purchasing of essential furniture (beds.) or basic kitchen utensils etc. can, depending on the situation, be provided by the project.

2.  Fight against sexual abuse of boys living in the street

Actions to inform, sensitize and foster responsibility

Acting together with NGOs and international organizations working in Nepal to fight against pedophilia: sensitization campaigns aimed at pushing the Nepalese government to pass legislation, at the Katmandu police to facilitate the identification of and arrest of notorious pedophiles, at hotels, public school teachers in Katmandu, social workers and educators working with children through local NGOs, Justice Ministry and Social Welfare Council staff, etc.

Actions related to the arrest of individuals suspected of pedophilia

As long as there is no Nepalese legislation to protect boys from sexual abuse and exploitation, it is impossible to get people suspected of pedophilia arrested. In the meantime, Voice of Children pursues its activities aimed at gathering information and testimonies form children.

3. Supporting the organization Voice of Children (VOC)

The Nepalese school and university curriculum offers no specialized path for the training of educators and psychologists. The staff intervening in these matters is therefore trained on the go, for the most part. E&D send educators and technical consultants to provide ad hoc training in the field, with a particular emphasis on the problems of abused children.

Aside from technical training, E&D provides VOC with institutional reinforcement (administrative structuring, human resources development and management, becoming financially independent, development of projects and fundraising.) in order to ensure the viability of its activities.