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.

Monday 30 September 2013

A Wonderful Time in Nepal

Sunday 29 September- As my time draws to a close in Nepal, I am very thankful for the privilege of being here for the past two weeks. I came as the New Hope representative to open the Hope Community Centre at Chinnchiu which comprises a school, a hostel, a community hall and a medical centre which is yet to be completed due to lack of funds(donations are tax deductible).The community is an oasis of hope. There are currently 3 classes (nursery, 2 kinders)and eventually it will be up to Yr 10. The opening was a testimony to the Lord's goodness through the vision of Educate Nepal and the support of God's people. In the week prior to the opening on Friday Grahame taught 40 church leaders in the hall and I did a modified New Hope International Effective teaching and Learning Series with v15 potential teachers and and the 3 teachers from the school.We had lots of fun learning and gave them basic Biblical foundations for Christian Education. the time at the community centre was worth the hair-raising drive from the airport over 2 mountains to get there!!! we visited the nearby Jhuprakhola village where the Badhi girls who live in the hostels and attend the Christian Community School come from there. The destitution of their lives and the level of degradation is confronting and almost unable for me to describe. I visited the community school campuses in my first week here and the difference in the girls is indescribable. Since being rescued from such degradation and being sold for sex, their lives have been transformed by the joy of belonging to The Lord's community in the school and the hostel.God is doing amazing things through Christian education in this place. Lots more stories to tell when I have opportunity to put them in a report.

Helen Blanch (New Hope International- Education Director)

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