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.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Team and teams

Hi. This is Agnes. Well the trip is all but at an end. Port is packed and stuff to stay boxed. It has been another time of seeing Christian brothers and sisters working together in harmony to assist our dear Nepali fellow Christians in the hard but rewarding work they do. Must say they are amazing. They work harder longer hours than we are used to and smile all the while. Some of them do not know the book of Peter but live its principles anyway.  They are a blessing to us all.

Trish is not a teacher but has shared her knowledge of ESL to encourage and teach the Mulpani staff and in particular the head English teacher.  They teach in their second language and she has been able to share ideas and inspire Absolutely a positive influence on all the team.
Barry worked with her and provided the drama and light relief as well as being a quiet encourager and "bag carrier" for the team.  Remember the Nepali teachers have to meet the government requirements from the text books for each subject and so Trish had to keep in mind the content in each book as well as share new ideas. Steep learning curve for her and one she accomplished.
  Katie took photos of everything and her talent to see things through her camera lens that depicted the work here is of the highest quality. Her heart was one by her sponsor child and all the other darling girls who just loved her.
 Margaret baked her way through bronchitis and into the girls hearts. Battling unrising self raising flour and health she set to work with a will and has left behind a kitchen and a program ready to go.
Robert has now arrived and Hari the maths teacher is thrilled to pieces to have someone of Robert's ability to give him ideas and help.  Robert's grand-daughter is sharing in the nursery classes and of course the little ones love her blonde hair and smiles.
Robyn does as she always does and even with a big fat cold has set to to keep our home clean our tums full and all of us on time. She is a marvel our little Robby. In charge and yet quiet and efficient and loving.
Papa Grahame is really a softie.  He keeps an eye on us all and yet works from pre-dawn to late. God surely picked just the right man for this job.  Bless you big brother.

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