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.

Sunday 12 April 2015

April Team Update Nepal 11th APRIL

Saturday again, and as mentioned the team took a bus to two churches. One church meets in a loft in the village of Dologhat the other is about 20mins further, way high up in the mountains at Sangachok. 

Sangachok is the home of our guesthouse mumma, Namuna. At church one group met her mother, father and younger brother, Kumar the church pastor. This church meets under a building below street level.

As we left the capitol on our way to the village churches we saw thousands of people, the armed forces, police and community groups lining the river bank for miles in an effort to clean up the river that runs through Kathmandu by pick up rubbish.
Clean up the river day. Kathmandu.
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Worship in Sangachok.
Namuna's mother.
Worship leader, Sangachok.
Boy in church
Children at church.


Elderly lady we met after church.

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While we visited the area we were able to walk up to the site for the new training centre under construction. At the same site a house is being built for long term workers Ian and Leanne who will oversee the project and then establish the training centre.
On the way to Buckley's Palace.

Everything is manual.

As you approach the block.
Ground floor internals.

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In Dololghat team member Gordon was invited to preach while at Sangachok team member Poppy spoke. Both men followed on with Pastor Raju's current theme on relationships. These messages were readily received by the congregations who enjoyed having Australians in their mix. Learning to speak via a translator was a challenge for both men who did a mighty job. 
Poppy in Sangachok.
Gordon in Dololghat
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Here are some shots of today.
Local village taxi service.

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Every inch of ground is used. Here the hills are terraced.

More examples of terraced mountain slopes.
Street markets.
Little man had big day. One helmut per bike only required.
 
A boy from Namuna's old sunday school class writes us a message.
The Hindu god Sheeba overlooking Kathmandu.
At an impressive 70m tall this tribute to the god Sheeba is unmissable on the road out of Kathmandu.

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Busted custard.
While Ruth thought she got away with 'licking the spoon' from last nights custard, photographic evidence has come to light suggesting the bowl also got the once over! Pictures don't lie was on the conversation round a bout for a while, no photo shopping here Ruth, me thinks your guilty!!

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The view as you near the top of the climb to Buckley's Palace. Dololghat is at the left of the bridge. Sangachok is further along to the right and high up in the mountain.
Till next time.


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