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 1 October 2014

Tuesday 30th September. Goodbyes, and coffee shops

 



Today, Tim had to say goodbye to his little sponsor girl.  As usual, tears flowed.  Also the self-defence class came to a close as Annette and Danielle both leave tomorrow, along with Tim.  We had a visit from a school team from John Paul College, who had a cooking class with some of our girls.  Also, our regular girls practiced their skills of hospitality on the team,  in our temporary coffee shop.  As you can see,  our girls are becoming quite skilled with their barista training.  Trish was working with her young women in preparation for work.  Today, they practiced having a job interview.  They are all such quick learners.  It is great when you see them grasping new concepts and running with them.  ESL classes continue,  Tim did some bike maintenance with the boys, others were are the school training teachers.  We had another team member arrive last night, who was also working in the school.  Face painting and ballooning continued with the children at school, and visits to sponsored children.  My day was the usual frenzied round of grocery shopping, interviews of last minute children about to board the bus and go home to the village for a visit, finishing off last minute details on the dolls , cooking dinner and lunch, and making sure everyone is OK.  Some of the ladies have bought some lovely Nepali outfits, so I guess they will be showing them off when they get home.   Frank has had the opportunity to go to three home groups late in the afternoon, and  do some teaching, usually sitting in the lounge/bedroom with the small group of eager people waiting to drink in every word.  Josh has been working setting up a computer room with his IT skills.  Not exactly sure just what he is doing, as it is all too technical for me.  Emma and Josh are doing some teaching at school and also helping out in the self defence class.  Mike is enjoying teaching in the Bible School and his  students are keen as mustard.  We have twelve people leaving on the late flight on Thursday, and then we will be down to five.  It has been a very full and exhausting  time, but being here is a wonderful experience.  Most people are already talking of returning.  I guess finances are the big factor.  Last night, we had a call that a big flood had swept away 44 houses in a village we have been to visit.  There was an urgent need for $2,000 to buy rice to keep these poor people alive while something can be done for them.  They are already so desperately poor, we wonder how they will survive.  As a team, we prayed for what was needed.  Within a few minutes, $2,500  was available for  immediate relief.  Jehovah Jireh, our provider is faithful.
Robyn 

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