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 19 September 2012

NO LONGER AT RISK

It's extremely hard to express the feeling of seeing hundreds of little girls who if not for Educate Nepal would now be either sold across the Indian border or prostituted in their own homes. The girls we saw today were so young, probably 4 - 15 years old. Cuteness personified and longing for love which of course we are all more than willing to give them. Barry and I have had sponsor children before but never had the opportunity to meet them in person. Today, we met our little Nabina! She is 4 and as cute as a bug's ear! She and her friend Manissha (who is just as cute and being sponsored by our friends) were 2 of 9 little ones rescued this week. Their future is now secure and fear of being kidnapped gone!! How utterly awesome is that!!
My cooking classes have had a slight hiccup as I've had trouble breathing. Not sure if it's asthma, chest infection, sinus infection or stress but I suspect all of the above!! I'm on the strongest of medication and still tight in the chest but hopefully improvement is on the way! So, I missed a class on Monday and today being a holiday there were no classes. Tomorrow I'm trusting all will be well for the class to re-commence. The kitchen is now fully equipped and Grahame has sourced the finest flour in Nepal!!
Barry is enjoying being part of the English teaching this week. He has made a life long friend in a young girl of 13 who is the oldest of 4 daughters who live in Surkhet. The team met the mother while they were out in the villages and she begged Pastor Raju to take her daughters as she was terrified of them being kidnapped by traffickers. They live in a hut made of mud, sticks and cow poo and there are no doors so the girls are at great risk. No father there at all either so this poor mother knew of Pastor Raju's reputation and her pleading paid off. The oldest girl flew back to Kathmandu with the team and her sisters will follow in the next bus load. This poor darling had never been on a bus or plane before and vomited all the way but adopted uncle (alias Barry) cleaned up the mess and looked after her. She is now so happy at the hostel and met up with her cousins. She now has a bed of her own instead of sleeping with 5 others (Grandma included) in a single bed. This ministry is beyond amazing and seeing God's heart for these beautiful girls has changed us forever.

Margaret Dell

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