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 7 April 2015

April Team News Monday 6th

The last few days have continued to keep us busy. Team members visiting at CCS1 added an international flavour as we had a couple from Hong Kong, Simon and Venus, Robert and Raquel from Pacific Hills, and Gordon and Vivienne.

Training in Administration skills, IELTS and computing continued to up skill our students. It is awesome to have the technical skills of Gordon who among other things is installing ADSL in Block B at CCS. The frustrations involved in this type of work here are immense but Gordon handles it like a pro.

School holidays are on at the moment which is a little different to home as for students there are half days and full days still spent at school, and then days off. It is doing our heads in trying to keep up!

***
The local monkeys are very adept at using the power lines to cross the busy streets to avoid becoming road kill. Not something we see at home everyday!

***

Venus and Simon are interested in sending students on mission trips to Nepal and are scoping out the ministry to understand all that is entailed.

Pastor Raju paid us a visit this afternoon to ensure all is well. It was a lovely time with him as he shared many more exciting God stories he has been living in recent days.

The balance of the team had the privilege of visiting one of the hostels to share with the girls. This is a moving experience and brings to a stark reality the age of those impacted and rescued. The children sang and danced some traditional Nepali stories as well as some with Christian lyrics.

Interviews continue to glean information and current photos for our valued sponsors. These times are a lot of work but such a privilege to spend one on one time with these precious little ones and their carers. This trip we have been trialling an online interview concept that is saving hours of work.


***
A visit with the young women at Sychar isn't complete without a round or ten thousand of 'Shaky in the house' We all had a turn but I am under threat of death if I post any of the other photo's!


***

Till next time.

No comments:

Post a Comment