Desperate Girls

The Badi Girls

Between 7,000 and 12,000 young girls, aged 9-16, are trafficked each year from Nepal; mainly to India. According to Nepal Monitor/On line journal, 2007, there are more than 200,000 Nepali girls in Indian brothels.

The Dalits(untouchables) are the lowest level in Hindu society, and the Badi community, in Western Nepal, are the lowest of the low. As a displaced hungry people group the Badi community has made sexual subservience a way of life. Young girls from this group “serve” other groups. This has become a tradition and means of livelihood. Many girls, even when they are unwilling, are forced to serve as sex slaves. Family members knowingly sell their daughters to traffickers.

Though prostitution is illegal in Nepal, the industry reportedly has links with highly ranked officials and political leaders. Large groups of girls are taken across the border with many police and government officials being in collusion with traffickers and brothel owners.

Traffickers and related criminals are often protected by political parties, and if arrested, are freed using political power. As a result, there is an underlying distrust of police that has led people not to file cases against traffickers.

Domestic action involves activities of NGO’s and other volunteer groups. These groups are playing a major role to address girl-trafficking and sex slaves issues. Some NGO’s are playing a very important role to improve the situation. From creating social awareness to rescuing and rehabilitation, they are providing services (and relief) to those that need it the most – the likely victims as well as the rescued ones. The Lighthouse foundation is one of these.

*See Chandra Kala’s story on this blog site.

Wednesday 26 September 2012

LAST NIGHT IN NEPAL

Our experiences in the past month will live in our hearts forever. Our final cooking class this evening was wonderful in spite of tears and cries of "Please Mumma don't go"!! The girls have nothing of value yet they raided their rooms so they could send me away with something personal belonging to them. How humbling!! These are the most beautiful girls I've ever met and the love they give and long to receive blows me away. To think of the horrendous lives some of them have had and to see them now as their new lives blossom before our very eyes is nothing short of miraculous. They love and care for each other as sisters and not once did I see even a sign of a disagreement among them.
When we fly out of Kathmandu in the morning there will be a part of me that remains in this country. 
Some observations:
1. Nepal is a poverty stricken country but only in material wealth. It's people are rich in so many other ways.
2. It's possible to be happy, really happy,  even when you have nothing but the love and support of others.
3. The little the Nepali people have is willingly shared with the likes of us! In fact to, them it's an honour but I know the honour is all ours.
4. I've never before been able to walk down a dark lane at night and feel totally safe (except from the monkey!!)
5. Even with the constant beeping of horns and continual pushing in I never saw any road rage, rude signs or angry gestures in this crazy traffic. 
6. In the midst of extreme poverty, dreadful smells and piles of rubbish, the ladies always look immaculate. They are a proud people always ready with a smile. 
7. They are longing to hear about God and His love for them.
8. In a country with the caste system so active, it's a wonderful thing when the Badi people (the untouchables) realise they are so valuable and worthy of God's love...no longer worthless but loved and cherished by Almighty God. His love for them is so evident as He keeps sending people to rescue and restore them to their rightful place.
9. Nepal is a country where you can't visit just once. There are too many lessons to be learnt from these amazing people.
10. You don't need to have the latest toys to have fun. The girls have no computers, Xboxes, games of any kind but I've yet to see a group of young people aged from 5 to 16 have such fun and enjoy their simple lives.  

So, as was said to me many times at our final baking class..."We will be waiting for you."  The waiting is uppermost in my mind also as I almost count the sleeps till I can once again be with these adorable girls who have taught me so much.

Margaret Dell

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