EmpowerHER: Rights, Protection and Hope

It wouldn't be Nepal if everything went smoothly. The new system has changed again due to protests of a number of government workers and some of the local decision making power, despite the decentralisation, went back to the central offices that were supposed to be closed down. We have finished all our registrations in Province 2 but the last paper allowing us to run a child helpline over there is still pending. Now it needs to go through the central level and that might take time. Our staff are getting frustrated but they are all used to all the delays. 

Whilst waiting for all the paperwork to go through, we are focusing on running the new Day Care Centre and Child Helpline in Birgunj (part of Province 2 as well) and also registering it in other districts in the same Province. So that might be quicker than getting one registration for the whole Province. The Day Care Centre is going really well, more and more children get food and classes at the Centre and outside of it too - some are too shy and suspicious to come inside yet but we are just spending time with them on the streets and finding out their story to be able to help them long term.

The government are also offering to help us with finding a bigger building but it is taking a long time so in the meantime we have settled nicely in the current house. With the help of our boys, we decorated all the walls in their artwork and we are also making the front of the building more inviting for any new children. We are speaking with the owner of an open land just outside of our building and hoping we can use that as a playground for the children. 

We will keep you updated with all the progress in the next report. Hopefully by then all the paperwork will be finished!

Thank you so much for all your support so far.

We paid another visit to Janakpur, the capital city of Province 2. We met with the minister for social welfare, the CDO (Chief District Officer), municipality and the mayor. The purpose of this visit was to finalise everything and get all the paperwork started so that we can open the new home for street children there. As there are no other organisations in that area assisting street children, all authorities were very welcoming and pledged their help to ensure Province 2 becomes street children free area in the next few years.

The city itself looks very neglected and very chaotic, even for Nepal. Most of the roads were dug up, with bricks blocking all over the roads. Many buildings' fronts were demolished to enable the government to widen the roads - that resulted in people cooking and sleeping in rooms with no front walls.

There were many children and adults begging on the streets, near temples and near an old railway line. However due to political issues in that region and, believe it or not, very hot weather, many charities and individuals don't want to work in the area. 

So now, the paperwork has been started and we are looking at possible houses for rent. We have identified the area in the outskirts of the city, where there is a lot of greenery and outside of all the dust and noise. It will probably take another 3 months to start everything properly but we already have a lot of furniture and many other things necessary to start the project. 

And a massive thank you to everyone for your support.