Alisha

THE STREET CHILDREN
THE STREET CHILDREN OF NEPAL

OF NEPAL
Anthroposociological
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ri
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE
JEAN
JE N CHRIS
ISTO
TOPH
P E RYCKMANS
RYCKMA
MANS
NS
JJEAN-CHRISTOPHE
EAN-CHRISTOPHE RYCKMANS
RYYCKMANS CPCS
C PCS
Fo ewo
Forewords
Fore ord
r s by Doctor Ba
Baburam
abu
buram Bhattarai,, Prime
Pri
rime
me M Minister
in
nis
i ter off N
Nepal,
epal,
ep
Didier
Didi
Didier
dii Reynders,
Reyndndeers, Deputy Prime Minister
Mini
Minisster aand
nd Foreign Aff ffai
airs
rs M
Minister
in
nisteer of B
Belgium
elgi
elg um
And
A
An d Jean
Jean-Charles
an Charles Demarquis,, Am
an-C Ambassad
Ambassador
ador
or o off Fr
Fran
France
ance
ce iin
n Nepal
November 2012, First Edi on
Copyright CPCS Interna onal
All rights reserved. No part of this publica on may be reproduced in any form without
the prior authorisa on from CPCS Interna onal.
Published by:
CPCS Interna onal
www.cpcs-int.org
Price:
NRs: 500.00
Price (out of Nepal / including transporta on costs)

Euros: 15.00
Dollars: 18.00
All benefits of the book will be used for street children related programs
ISBN: 9789937254113
Design, Producon and Markeng by:

Ul mate Marke ng (P.) Ltd
THE STREET CHILDREN
OF NEPAL
Anthroposociological Study of Social, Cultural and

Communica onal Prac ces
Author and Research Director: Jean-Christophe Ryckmans

Research Vice-Director: Arjun Mohan Bha arai
Research Coordina on Commi ee: Bijesh Shrestha, Himmat Maskey, Inge Bracke
Associate Analysis and edi ng: Michael Meehan
Sta s cian: Doctor Ramesh Adhikari
Data and interviews Collectors: Badri Acharya, Bimala Khanal, Ekta Narayan
Pradhan, Kalpana Shrestha, Nawaraj Pokharel, Ranju Shrestha, Shyam Krishna
Shrestha, Tejendra Karki
Translator (French to English) : Aurlie Kustermans
Research Facilitators: Aita Raj Limbu, Badri N Shrestha, Bhagat Shiwako , Bikash
Shahi, Bindhya Napit, Bipin KC, Bishnu Charmakar, Bishwa Devi Shrestha, Caroline
Diercks, Catherine Peart, Claude e Horge, Dabal Pandey, Deepak Nepal, Devi
Sarki, Esthel Davidsen, Ganesh Khatri, Hem Budhathoki, Kailash Rawal, Khadga Bdr.
Shrestha, Kishor Lamsal, Krishna Dhital, Jacqueline Cutrera, Lab Kumar Shrestha,
Laxman Dahal, Maiya Shrestha, Manju Dhungel, Nabaraj Baniya, Nawaraj Gurung,
Netra Bdr Khadka, Pabitra Silwal, Dawa Tamang, Puran Shakya, Rabi Bhandari,
Rajendra Rawal, Rajendra Tamang, Raju Dulal, Ram Kumar Shrestha, Raman Bdr
Adhikari, Ratna Pokharel, Romain Verbeeren, Salikram Acharya, Samjhana Giri,
Sanu Maiya Shrestha, Saroj Suwal, Shobha Ojha, Shree Krishna Thapa, Srijana
Giri, Shreejana Sapkota, Shyam Kumar Shrestha, Sita Rai, Suja Dahal, Surendra
Niroula, Surya Prakash Shrestha, Sylvie Casiulis, Tanka Prasad Poudel, Tek Bahadur
Paudyal, Tirtha Adhikari, Tirtha Raj Tripathi
Illustrator (drawings): Santosh Rai
The Street Children of Nepal
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORDS
By the Honourable Doctor Baburam Bha arai, Prime Minister of Nepal | 6
By the Honourable Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium | 7
By His Excellency, Jean-Charles Demarquis, Ambassador of France in Nepal | 8
AUTHORS PREFACE | 11
ACKNOWLEDGMENT | 13
INTRODUCTION: Basic Profile of the Street Children and Street Youth in Nepal
Introduc on | 17
Street children: limita ons and risks of such a defini on | 18
Quan ta ve approach: analysis of the sta s cal data | 21
Qualita ve approach: observa on and first-hand accounts | 25
Case-by-case visions instead of a general defini on | 31
Introduc on of the chapters in this study | 33
Na onal perspec ve by Madhav Pradhan, President - CWIN (NEPAL) | 35
Na onal perspec ve by Krishna Thapa, President - VOC (NEPAL) | 37
Interna onal perspec ve by Edwin de Boev, Coordinator Interna onal Network

of Social Street Workers | 42

2
CHAPTER 1: A journey to the street | 45
Introduc on | 47
Na onal perspec ve by Pradeep Parajuli and Wim De Becker, Director and Country
Director of Kids Shangrila Home (Nepal) | 61
Interna onal perspec ve by Flavia Shaw-Jackson, Director - Face (Egypt)
Key findings | 63
CHAPTER 2: The working condi ons and daily ac vi es | 69

Introduc on | 71
First-hand accounts | 79
Na onal perspec ve by Himmat Maskey, Na onal Director CPCS (Nepal) | 82
Interna onal perspec ve by Edho Mukendy, Coordinator - CATSR (Congo) | 85
Key findings | 88
CHAPTER 3: The use of drugs | 89

Introduc on | 91
Na onal perspec ve by Rajendra Thapa, Director Youth Vision (Nepal) | 98
Interna onal perspec ve by Sarah De Meyer, Drug Department Coordinator -
SODA (Belgium) | 101
Interna onal perspec ve by Tessa Windelinckx, Coordinator - Needle Exchange
(Belgium) | 104
Key findings | 106
CHAPTER 4: Sexuality, vulnerability to abuses and other risks | 107

Introduc on | 109
Na onal perspec ve by Milan Dharel, Director-CWISH (Nepal) | 125
Na onal perspec ve by Prem Aryal, Educa on Coordinator-PLAN Interna onal
(Nepal) | 127
Interna onal perspec ve by Sheetal Rana, PhD Candidate-University of Minnesota
(United States-Nepal) | 131
Table of Contents
3
Interna onal perspec ve by Thomas Kaufmann, Director- ECPAT (Luxembourg-
Interna onal) | 134
Key findings | 140
CHAPTER 5: Social context, group iden ty and conflicts | 141

Introduc on | 143
Na onal perspec ve by Shiva Prasad Paudel, Former CCWB and Save the Children
Ocial (Nepal) | 159
Na onal perspec ve by Prahlad Dhakal, Country Director-ISIS Founda on (Nepal) | 164
Interna onal perspec ve by Annie Fontaine, professor-University of Montral
(Canada) | 168
Key findings | 172
CHAPTER 6: Belief, cultural prac ces, awareness of ones class and na onal
pride | 175
Introduc on | 177
Quan ta ve approach: analysis of the sta s cal data| 177
Na onal perspec ve by Deepak Raj Sapkota, Country Director Karuna Founda on
(Nepal) | 193
Na onal perspec ve by Pradeep Acharya, Lecturer-Tribhuvan University (Nepal) | 196
Interna onal perspec ve by Jean-Robert Chry (Hai ) | 198
International perspective by Sylvain Fillon, Director-Team-Monde (Peru-
Interna onal) | 201
Key findings | 204
CHAPTER 7: Educa on, future perspec ves, dreams and convic ons | 207
Introduc on| 209
Na onal perspec ve by Kshi j Raj Prasai, Educa on Coordinator-United Mission
to Nepal (Nepal) | 223
Interna onal perspec ve by Sophie Rollin, Coordinator Educa on -La Chaine
de lEspoir (France-Interna onal) | 227
Key findings | 229

4
CHAPTER 8: A specific study on the Thamel group and its rela on to tourists | 231
Introduc on | 233
Descrip on of the studied place and groups (children and tourists) | 235
Visions and first-hand accounts | 241
Analysis of the interac ons | 251
Problems related to interac on | 262
International perspective by Simone Galimberti, Former Deputy Country
Director CCS (ITALY) | 267
Conclusions | 272
CONCLUSIONS | 273
METHODOLOGY, DIFFICULTIES & BIBLIOGRAPHY | 283
SOME ACTIVE NGOs AND GOs IN NEPAL & CPCS, ITS ACTION
AND ITS PARTNERS | 291
Table of Contents
5
FOREWORD
By the Honourable Doctor Baburam Bha arai,
Prime Minister of Nepal
KATHMANDU
NEPAL
Message
I am pleased to learn that the Child Protec on Centers and Services Interna onal
(CPCS) is going to publish its research publica on The Street Children of Nepal.
Due to various socio-cultural, economical and other reasons the problem of
street children is becoming an issue of serious concern for us. Nevertheless, the
ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and as a whole the Government
of Nepal has taken several measures in collabora on with various na onal and
international non-governmental organizations to address and alleviate the
problems faced by street children and working hard to rehabilitate them.
I hope that this publica on will shed light on the problems faced by the street
children of Nepal and provide guidelines to policy makers and others concerned
with this issue.
(Dr. Baburam Bha arai)

6
FOREWORD
By Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Aairs, Foreign Trade and European Aairs of Belgium
Opening Jean-Christophe Ryckmans book awoke in me the memory of a moment

both very brief and very recent: landing a few weeks ago in Kathmandu for the
shortest of stays, 30 minutes to disembark a handful of passengers and load a few
others. Then the plane took o again.
But I remember this stop vividly, for it gave me a strange feeling of surprise and
curiosity. Behind the bare and sunny peaks of the Himalayas, I had not expected
to suddenly discover this mul tude of dark, flat roofs, lined up all the way to the
nebulous rims of the bowl encircling the capital city. Who lives in these houses?
What are the lives, what are the stories unfolding under their frames ?
Beyond these ques ons, habitual to the air traveler, Mr. Ryckmans also teaches us
to ask ourselves who lives between these houses, sleeping curled in the cover of
their eaves, invisible to the aerial observer. But the author also usefully reminds us
that the phenomenon of street children is not limited to homeless youth.
This sense of detail and accuracy is present throughout the book, full of conceptual
discipline and statistical precision. But The Street Children of Nepal is also
humanly rich, with tes monies giving faces and names to the abandonment and
the vulnerability: Phurba, Sumit, Kancha, Maikal, Chhi j S, Ram Baniya, Laxman,
Alisha ...
Both rigorous and ac on-oriented, the book resembles a reflec on of its author,
a communica on student, whom neither his young age nor the distance from his
na ve Belgium could dissuade to embark on the unlikely adventure that sees CPCS
employing today more than a hundred people in dozens of communi es do ed
along the slopes of the Himalayas. My experience as a Minister, and especially as a
Foreign Minister, has convinced me that the refusal of resigna on and fatalism is one
of the most accurate defini ons of courage... and that courage is a most contagious
virtue. I have therefore no doubt that this book will a ract to CPCS more of the
support this organiza on needs in its fight for the endangered children of Nepal.
Didier Reynders
7
FOREWORD
By Jean-Charles DEMARQUIS, French Ambassador to Nepal
The daily struggle that Jean-Christophe Ryckmans and his NGO Child Protec on
Centers and Services (CPCS) undertake in favor of street children in Nepal in
general but principally in Kathmandu seeks to break the infernal cycle of violence
and abuse that is the unfortunate every day existence of these children.
For these children, this social and societal problem is about their stolen childhoods,
the confisca on of their dreams and the exposure to dangers that no child on
this planet should have to endure!
The publica on of the study on The Street Children of Nepal is an eye-opener

which should increase awareness of this global problem and pilot research for a
durable solu on so that the tle of Jean-Christophes book (2007) LEspoir Au
Bout De La Rue1 will one day soon become a reality.
Jean-Charles DEMARQUIS
French Ambassador to Nepal
Kathmandu
1
English transla on (literal): Hope at the end of the street

8
THE STREET CHILDREN
OF NEPAL
Anthroposociological Study of Social, Cultural and

Communica onal Prac ces
CPCS
Foreword
9
ARTICLE 1 (of the United Na ons Conven on on the
Rights of the Child (CRC) ra fied by Nepal on
September 14, 1990) : A child means every human
being below the age of 18 years
Street Children are supposed to be human beings like everyone else. Unfortunately, in
Nepal, as in many other countries, they are far from enjoying even basic human
and child rights.

10
AUTHORS PREFACE
This study is based on ten years of observa on and interven on with the street
children and youth who are isolated on the street and excluded from all parental
or family support.
They are either plas c pickers, thieves, beggars or money collectors in public
transporta on means. These youth, these children are living on the fringes of
the Nepalese society with their own habits, dreams and perspec ves
In this publica on we will approach the subject of these children and try to be er
understand their situa on.
Of course, this study is not the end taken into account the scope of the subject
and the mul plicity of the contexts in which the concerned children and youth
are evolving.
The purpose of this work is to be found in the ques ons it raises and in the
ques oning, cri cism and opinions it will confirm, refute, or simply and o en
arouse in the mind of the reader, be he an observer, a grassroots actor, a financing
en ty, a poli cian, a journalist or a mere ci zen who is concerned with these li le
lives he one day may meet on the streets of Kathmandu and of Nepal.
In Nepal, as in the rest of the world, the term and the concept of street children
echoes each day and for dozens of local, na onal or interna onal causes or
consequences. Each month we see the birth of dozens of projects, which are
more or less well-thought-out, more or less haphazard, and each day dozens
of youths, professionals, ac vists and dreamers decide to help the street
children of Kathmandu, Biratnagar or Nepalganj.
The challenge was huge, some mes maybe too huge. How can we face, from the
start, the dierences in concep on, of opinion and in reality? How can we talk
about their lives, what they have been through, with on the one hand enough
respect and an open-mind to avoid any s gma za on and on the other hand
enough realism and actual facts to remain useful and ecient?
Authors Preface
11
Opening up new paths, arousing some thinking, explaining some routes These
are our objec ves, which we will try to reach in a humble way and ready to admit
the huge limita ons of this book.
Each child, each youth whom we met on the streets of Nepal is a life and a story.
To try and understand or even back him on his way, to hope and generate a
be er-being in his everyday life or a breaking-o with the street, what ma ers
is to respect him for what he is, for what he wears and, above all, for what he
dreams of.
Let us finish this preface with a li le sentence to ponder on:
There is no truth about street children in Nepal Since they dont exist But
He/She does!
Jean-Christophe Ryckmans

12
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study is the result of the rela onship of respect and trust that the whole
CPCS team has been able to establish with the children over many years.
We would like to thank all the social workers, street workers, psychologists, youth
workers and the others from many organiza ons who, in Nepal, struggle every
day to guarantee the concerned children and youth certain minimum rights and
an access to socializa on and rehabilita on programs.
We are very grateful to all our partners who support the initiation and the
publica on of this large-scale project.
We sincerely thank the Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, Dr. Baburam

Bha arai, the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aairs,
Foreign Trade and European Aairs of Belgium, Mr. Didier Reynders and His
Excellency, Jean-Charles Demarquis, Ambassador of France in Nepal for their
support and par cipa on.
We extend our gra tude to all the na onal and interna onal professionals who
shared their valuable views and thoughts with us.
Most importantly, special thanks must be given to all the children who collaborated
on this book. We sincerely hope it will bring about improvements in their daily
lives.
Thanks are also due to the following individuals and organizations for their
par cipa on, advice and support regarding this research and CPCS in general: (the)
American Himalayan Founda on, Anne Petry, Ariane Angenot, Aurlie Kustermans,
Brihaspa , Lila and Kyran Ryckmans (the authors family), Child Workers in Nepal
(CWIN), Claudette Horge, Douglas Maclagan, Dynamo International, Ecpat-
Luxembourg, Esthel Davidsen, Jean-Franois Meyer, Jeremy Southon, La Chaine
de lespoir, La Commune de Somme-Leuze (Belgium), La Fonda on Vieujant, Les
amis de Soeur Emmanuelle, (the) ECPAT (Luxembourg), (the) French Embassy in
Acknowledgment
13
Nepal, Madav Pradhan, Marc Nuytemans, Michael Mehan, Michel Verhulst, Olivier
Lejeune, Philippe Deharre, Raymond Ryckmans, Romane Lejeune, Sylvie Casiulis,
(the) Simons Founda on, (the) Social Welfare Council (Npal), (the) Universit
Catholique de Louvain, Vanessa De Roeck, Willy Borsus, etc.
Last but not least, this book could not have been realized without the academic
supervision of Mr. Alain Reyniers and the support of Messrs. Guyot, Grvisse,
Derze, Lits, Marion, Mrs. Volckrick and the whole teaching and administra ve
team of the Communica on School of the UCL University. (Universit Catholique
de Louvain Belgium) We would like to thank you for allowing us to combine
our academic research with our daily concerns, i.e. these youth and children.
This book is dedicated to all those children and youth who didnt survive the
street suerings. Their memory lives throughout this book and in the hearts of
all the people who took part in it.

14
INTRODUCTION
BASIC PROFILE OF STREET CHILDREN AND

STREET YOUTH IN NEPAL
CPCS
15
ARTICLE 2 (CRC) : Children must be treated with-
out discrimina on of any kind, irrespec ve of
race, colour, sex, language, religion or
other status
Street Children are discriminated against by individuals from other social classes because
they are dierent; they dont live in a house, they dont enjoy family protec on, and they
have to work and survive in dire condi ons.
16
Introduction
In this moment, Dinesh and others are warming up their frozen hands on a
makeshi fire in the cold dawn air. Manish and Meena are singing in the dark
night and the empty alleys, seeking for the most profitable rubbish. Sanam or
Shiva are wandering about in a park or pestering a passer-by to scrape together
some money. Sushita is happy over a glue pack or a good meal. Surya is sad for
a trinket she lost and Aashish is having fun with the citys delights. Parva and
Som are crying over yesterday or todays pains. In this moment, others are now
protec ve, now raped, now playful, now ba ered, now good Samaritan, now
driven out, now alive, now dead
This book has been structured in the following way: first, this introduc on which
explains the general situa on of the street childhood in Nepal and, paradoxically,
the huge diculty to theorize or generalize it.
This introduc on will open up new paths that the following chapters will take.
It will set out dierent points of view (seven) which we considered useful to
understand the street child in the complexity of his iden ty and of his everyday
life. Thus, seven chapters which will deal with several dierent ways of looking
at the street child, at a street group or, in a utopian way, at the street childhood
in Nepal.
So who are these lives, these children and these youth exactly?
In this introduc on, we will first apply ourselves to deconstruc ng these rich and
vague categories which, depending on the trends and mes, have been used
to describe, classify and iden fy so many li le lives: street children, children
in a street situa on, children on the street, children at risk
We will start with a few defini ons, comments or thoughts on the street children
and their contexts but we will quickly go on with the dierent views we collected
during our observa ons and which we find useful to understand what they are
and what they have to go through.
Introduction
17
Street children: limita ons and risks of such a defini on
The European federa on of street children defines the street children concept as
such: an extremely vulnerable group of children, living in most severe situa ons
well beyond the usual no on of `poverty`. They face a gross viola on of their
human rights, such as violence, sexual exploita on and abuse, chemical addic ons
and numerous other human rights viola ons.2
As for UNICEF, they make a dis nc on between two significant categories:
1. Children on the street:

Children who are on the street and who are engaged in an ac vity of an economic
character, from begging to sale. Most of them go back home at the end of the
day and share their earnings with their close rela ves. They can go to school and
keep a feeling of belonging to their family. As a result of the fragile economic
environment of their family, they can progressively choose to permanently live
on the street.
2. Children of the street:

Children who live on the street (and outside their normal family environment).
They can keep some family es, but these are occasional.3
2
European Commissions Communica on on the Rights of the Child (2011-2014), page 7
3
h p://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/ZIM_01-805.pdf
Introduction: Basic Profile of the Street Children and Street Youth in Nepal
18
On the popular Wikipedia, we can find the following observa ons: Street
children are increasingly recognized by sociologists and anthropologists to be a
socially-built category that in reality does not form a clearly defined, homogeneous
popula on or phenomenon (Glauser, 1990; Ennew, 2000; Moura, 2002). 4
The term street children covers children in such a wide variety of circumstances
and characteris cs that policy-makers and service providers find it dicult to
describe and target them. By removing the street children label, we can find
individual girls and boys of all ages who live and work in public spaces, and who
are visible in the vast majority of the worlds urban centres. If this diculty in
conceptualizing seems obvious, more and more actors are highligh ng the risk
of s gma zing, by a confining defini on, so complex a world as the one of the
street and the children who live in it, as street childhood then risks to be reduced
to a disease which has to be treated.
If ones goal in wri ng about street children is to oer ideas on how to eradicate
a problem, one can hardly view those people seen to embody the problem as
autonomous beings in a social world. Reduced to something to be cured, street
children become objects in a distant debate among adults. 5
The Interna onal Network of the Street Workers supports this opinion and even goes
further by recommending to abandon the street children concept and to replace
it by children in a street situa on or even to broaden it to street popula on. 6
In the end, the ques on about the street child defini on thus appears to be
daring and almost embarrassing. There is indeed a risk that too specific or
unique a defini on for so manifold a phenomenon will further increase the
s gma za on of the concerned children.
That is why, in Nepal, children in a street situa on are o en iden fied by the
general public as what people call Khate a word which once described plas c
pickers only but which is now used for all the children who work, live and sleep
on the street. Khate is a very nega ve term and children refuse to be called
that way. Anyway, this term describes the o en nega ve public opinion toward
street children quite well.
4
h p://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_child
5
Tobias Hecht, At Home in the Street (Cambridge, 1998)
6
Interna onal Guide on the methodology of street work throughout the world (Dynamo interna onal,
2008) - h p://www.street-work.net/files/files/Guide2008AN.pdf
Street children: limitations and risks of such a definition
19
They are considered to be social parasites, pe y criminals, drug abusers and
thieves. Their dirty language, shabby clothes and refusal to follow any social
constraint makes the general public think that street children are basically
and internally unsociable. But if you swap roles for a minute, you can see that
the children feel as if they had no other choice but to behave that way. Feeling
unaccepted, they decide in turn not to accept society and its rules.
Thus, the expression street child can and must be the subject of many debates
or strongly cri cised. Street children are not automa cally on the street, and
vice versa. The term street designates much more than a road space. It is a life
environment or even a posi on or a way of being The rela onship between the
children and the street varies. A child who evolves in a street context mustnt
automa cally be called a street child. It is the same for the children called children
at risk. Moreover, those who are called street children and who thus mostly
live on the street can be approached in dierent situa ons: a street situa on,
a shantytown situa on, or even a family situa on for it is not because they live
with their family that they are not, some mes, under the influence of the street
mechanisms.
Could a child who works and earns a living s ll match a ght defini on? But if
he/she sleeps on the ground on the street, does he/she become a street child
again in peoples eyes? The children who spend most of their me on the street
can either have a home or not, sleep in a shelter or on the street, work or go
to school. If a child, for example, takes part in a rehabilita on process, can we
then consider that they are not a street child anymore? And do all these children
iden fy with this term?
20
Quantitative approach: analysis of the statistical data
and basic profile of the research respondents:
Age and Sex
A total of 302 street children were interviewed in this study. The mean (average)
age of the children was 13.9 years. More than two-thirds of the children (67% of
sample) were aged between 11 and 16 years old while 4% of the children were less
than 10 years old. 20% of the children were aged between 17 and 18 years old.
Age of the children

60
51
50 48
Number of children
40
34 33 34
30
23 25 27
20
14
10 7
1 2 3
0
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Age
In regard to the sex of the children, an overwhelming majority of the children

covered in this study (93%) were male while remaining 20 children (7%) were
female.
Because of this factor, this book will refer to the child in a street situa on as the
male he. This is done purely as a ma er of expediency. It is in no way stereotyping
all street children as males and denigra ng females as Others. As discussed further
in the book, female street children face far more risks and abuses than male street
children. This must never be forgo en or ignored.
Quantitative approach: analysis of the statistical data and basic profile of the research
respondents
21
Sex of the children
Female
7%
Male
93%
Time on street
Almost three in four children (72%) have already spent more than 2 years in the
street with 81% of these street children being 13 years or older. Further, 19% of
the children spent less than one year in the street and 11% of the children had
come to the street within 6 months prior to the survey.
Time spent on street
Up to 6
months 7 to 12
11% months
8%
1 to 2
years
10%
More then
2 years
71%
22
District of origin (of the interviewed children)
Children covered in this study were from many districts. These 302 sampled
children were from 42 districts out of 75 districts of the country and from India as
well. Strikingly, 15% of all interviewed children reported that their place of origin
was the eastern Terai district of Sunsari. This figure might be partly explained
by the high presence of children from this district in the areas where the study
was conducted.
The next highest district represented was Kaski with almost 7% of the children
from there. Kathmandu, Rupandehi and Chitwan followed with approximately 6%
of street children from these districts. It is notable that 5.3% of sampled street
children were from India.
Quantitative approach: analysis of the statistical data and basic profile of the research
respondents
23
India
Manag
Humla
Siraha
Maho ari
Solukhumbu
Sankhuwashava
Terhathum
Lalitpur
Palpa
Dang
Dhankuta
Bhaktapur
Parsa
Argakhachi
Baglung
Nuwakot
Tanahu
Khotang
lamjung
Parbat
Sarlahi
Okhaldhunga
Bara
Morang
Sindhuli
Gorkha
Ramechhap
Dolakha
Udaypur
Syanja
Kavre
Jhapa
Banke
Sindhupalchowk
Makawanpur
Dhading
Nawalparasi
Chitwan
Rupandehi
Kathmandu
Kaski
Sunsari
0 5 10 15 20
% age
24
Qualitative approach: observation and first-hand
accounts
The years we spent working with and observing these children le us wondering
whether it was really possible to provide a basic profile of them. Of course, it
is possible to make a quan ta ve analysis. That is what we will see in the next
paragraph. But each life has its own history and there is no such thing as a street
child prototype.
Thanks to our observa ons and on-the-spot knowledge, we are able to es mate
that, in Kathmandu alone, the number of children and youth between 6 and 18
who mainly live on the street without any family support amounts to between 338
and 619. Outside the capital city and in 17 of the main ci es or li le downtown
areas, we es mate their number between 350 and 540. This obviously contrasts
with the thousands of street children men oned by some studies which are based
on a wider understanding or defini on of the concept which, as we already
discussed, is not inappropriate but, in this study, we will only concentrate on
the problem of children in a street situa on who are isolated from their family.
The following es mate per geographical area was carried out by the CPCS street
workers from the Nepali branch of the interna onal network of street workers
(h p://www.street-work.net/en):
S.N Loca on Total Nbr of Street Total Nbr of Street

Children (min) Children (max)
1 Lagankhel 12 15
2 Jaulakhel 3 10
3 Gwarko 5 8
4 Dhobighat 3 5
5 Mahalaxmisthan 5 8
6 Nakhu 3 5
7 Kalanki 20 40
8 Thapathali 5 8
9 Lazimpart 5 6
10 Ekantakuna 3 5
Qualitative approach: observation and first-hand accounts
25
11 Purano Baneshwor 5 7
12 Sudhara 5 7
13 Kaldhara 8 12
14 Teku 6 10
15 Setopul 5 6
16 Rantnapark 10 15
17 Mahankal 20 30
18 Kalima 10 25
19 Balkhu 5 10
20 Swayambhu 8 20
21 Basantapur 30 40
22 Thamel 20 30
23 New road 8 10
24 Dallu 10 12
25 Balaju 15 30
26 Jamal 5 8
27 Darbarmarg 9 14
28 Putalisadak 10 25
29 Pashupa 50 65
30 Chabahil 8 15
31 Til Ganga 15 20
32 Kotheshwor 15 20
33 Baudha 8 12
34 Banepa 15 25
35 Kri pur 2 5
36 Pulchok 5 8
37 Sankhamul 5 9
26
38 Baneshwor 5 8
39 Batkyapool 2 3
40 Bhaktapur 5 8
Total 388 619
Out-of-Kathmandu Valley Street Children
1 Biratnagar 10 25
2 Itahari 25 40
3 Dharan 70 90
4 Hetauda 15 20
5 Narayangarh 70 95
6 Butwal 60 90
7 Nepalgunj 5 20
8 Surkhet 5 7
9 Pokhara 60 95
10 Birtamod 2 4
11 Damauli(tanhun) 3 5
12 Mahendranagar 2 5
13 Birjung 8 10
14 Bairawa 5 8
15 Munglin 3 9
16 Dang 2 5
17 Dhangari 5 12
Total 350 540
These children and youth sleep, work and live outside, usually in a gang/group.
They work as khalasis (money collectors in local public transport), plas c pickers,
beggars, sellers of bo les of water, of newspapers, etc. In this street se ng and
even if they are young, they have to face social exclusion day by day and become
easy preys for some of the most basic forms of exploita on.
27
Because of their weakness, they become first-rate targets for the local mafias who
use them in all kinds of tracs. Life on the streets includes myriads of dangers
and risks such as physical and mental violence, drug dependence, threats from
the gangs, diseases, crime, alcoholism, starva on, lack of self-esteem, etc.
The image of street children in the general publics eye is not very posi ve. They
are considered to be social parasites, pe y criminals and drug abusers. A lot of
people consider that them wearing shabby clothes, using a dirty language and
being likely to refuse most of the social constraints further proves that they are
in a marginal and harmful posi on.
As for the children, they feel as if they had no other choice but to behave that
way. Feeling socially unaccepted, they decide in turn not to accept society and
its rules. Why should we respect a society which rejects us?
The paradox is indeed terrible: society rejects street children because they are
unsociable, and the children are unsociable because society rejects them. They
are s ll children, but they have had to adopt some adult behavior in order to face
their dicult environment. Feeling unaccepted by society, they form a parallel
society with its own codes, its language features and its own rituals, which includes
sning glue and taking drugs. The groups of street children in Kathmandu are not
28
really gangs organized into a hierarchy. They rather form a flexible rela onship
network in which exchanges and movements happen frequently. Each group has
its rules and its territorial posi on (Ganga Bu, Thamel, Kalanki, Bir Hospital, etc.).
The group oers the child protec on, concern, confidence and solidarity. Its values
and its system become the basis upon which the child develops his iden ty, which
will also be strongly linked to the survival condi ons of the street. On the one
hand, they see themselves as unsociable people, as washouts or as lower people
because of the way society looks at them. On the other hand, within their gang,
they see themselves as a leader, a free individual who has his own role to play.
Each group has its own leader who stands out among the others for dierent
reasons: intelligence, physical force, age, etc. We will dwell upon this no on of
group and gang in chapter 5.
Let us not forget that there are also several gangs made up of young adults who
have a certain grip on, who exercise a certain authority over the children. To the
very young, the leaders and members of these gangs are successful role models,
examples to follow. They try to impress the children in every possible way and are
completely unscrupulous about manipula ng and using them. It is not unusual
29
for children to be taken on as pros tutes or as minions for the s, drug sales or
fights against other gangs. When they pass the 16-17 year-old mark, they either
sink into crime and/or drugs or end their life in prison or even die.
The reasons for them arriving on the streets are numerous and complex the
main ones being the socio-economic condi ons in the villages, spli ng of the
family group, domes c violence o en linked to alcohol urbaniza on and city
a rac on, as well as poli cal instability. From our perspec ve, it is important
to understand and respect them. In the Nepali culture, a lot of families let their
children go on the street, hoping that they will earn some money for the family.
First-hand accounts:
Dhiraj (13 years):

I come from Ramechhap. I came to Kathmandu by bus. After my arrival in
Kathmandu, I had to spend the night on the street. I didnt know where to go. It
was very dicult. I made some friends who gave me food and who also taught
me how to live on the street. They taught me how to beg and Ive earned more
and more money because I slowly got to know how to get it. I spend the money I
earn on food, but also on cigare es. From me to me I go back home and bring
some friends from my neighbourhood and my brothers too. We all collect money
at the same me and use it to go to the cinema and to buy clothes. Some mes
we collect money in a hotel and then we eat there.
Phurba (17 years):

I was very small when I ended up on the street. I only know that my family is from
Tibet. I dont know anything else about my background. I dont know where my
family and rela ves are now.
I have a lot of friends on the street and Ive lived in dierent gangs. Ive done a
lot of bad things and bad works. Ive been on the street since I was 10. I spend
all the money I earn on drugs and entertainment. I dont care about saving.
Chhabilal (18 years):

I am from Nepalgunj and was very small when I started living on the street. In
the beginning, everybody loved me and gave me money or food. Some people
told me that I could stay in their home.
30
Ive stayed in many houses where they loved me too. But I couldnt manage to
stay for a long me. I moved between jobs and then, a er a while, I decided to
stay constantly on the street. At first, the other youth from the street loved and
protected us, but then they sent us to work. We shared the money we earned
with each other. We spent our money on glue, drugs, food, etc.
I went to an organiza on but couldnt stay there for a long me because of my

old street friends.
Now I am sick and weak. Nobody respects me and nobody cares about me
anymore. Im over 16 and the organiza ons dont care about me anymore either.
It is very dicult to survive on the street. I give sugges ons and advice to small
children on the streets. I have a lot of regrets but it is too late now.
Bisal Gurung (12 years):

I come from a good family in Dhulikhel. I went to the English school there and
was a student in class 6. I was a good student. My teachers and family loved me
a lot. One day I came to Kathmandu and made a friend on the street. He taught
me how to smoke cigare es and slowly I started sning glue too. I enjoy it more
with my friends. Because of the friendship and the freedom, it was impossible
for me to leave the street and I didnt go back home.
I know this is bad but I couldnt leave the street life. Some mes I try to go away
from those friends and go back home. I go to the organiza on and start school
again but I s ll remember my friends and the streets freedom. Im addicted to
glue and it is pulling me back to the street where I then feel happy and enjoy
the street life again.
Case-by-case visions instead of a general defini on

Given the impossibility, for prac cal reasons, of defining and categorizing in an
accurate way the child in a street situa on and given the risk of s gma za on
in rela on to such an a empt, we will keep in mind that we should iden fy
each childs or groups situa on clearly and on a case-by-case basis. What we
suggest here is a way to understand the street child or group in a systemic and
dynamic approach.
In fact, and whether we have to describe a child, a group or, ambi ously, a general
situa on such as in this study (street childhood in Nepal), we find it useful to
dwell on the seven following angles or visions for a while:
Case-by-case visions instead of a general definition
31
1. The background, the past
2. The working condi ons and daily ac vi es
3. The use of drugs
4. The sexuality, abuses and other risks
5. The social context, group iden ty and conflicts
6. The link to the culture, the tradi ons, the medias and the world
7. The educa onal context
Why these seven angles? Because it seems to us that these seven alterna ve
visions on a concrete situa on are enough to provide a more or less comprehensive
general view. This view shall not be confining or fixed. It has to change; the child
thinks, changes and evolves on a day-to-day basis, and so does his group.
To cut a long story short, these seven visions ask the following ques ons and
introduce the subsequent chapters:
1. Where does he come from? What is his past?

2. What does he do every day? Does he have a remunera ve ac vity?
If so, which type of ac vity?
3. Which drugs does he use? Why and how?
4. What kinds of abuses and risks did he have or s ll does have to
face?
5. What social context does he have to live in and what conflicts does
he have to face?
6. What is his link to the culture and tradi ons, to the medias and to
the outside world?
7. What is his educa onal context? Where and what is he learning?
Where could he learn be er? How does he foresee his future?
Of course, these seven ques ons are not independent from one another and could
be enriched with a thousand more views. They dont prevent other ques ons
from arising, but rather the opposite, they contribute to crea ng a debate.
32
Introduc on of the chapters in this study:
The following chapters are built around the seven visions we just suggested:
Chapter 1: A journey to the street (where does he come from?)

The child, the youth in a street situa on has got a past and one cannot dwell
upon his everyday life or even try to build a future for and with him without
taking into account what he has been through, why he ended up on the street,
his family situa on
Chapter 2: The working condi ons and daily ac vi es

The child in a street situa on, hanging around on it during the day, also keeps
himself busy there. In Nepal, some ac vi es can clearly be iden fied as forms
of work (collec on of rubbish, cleaning, sale of newspapers). Others are more
unse ling or confusing (drug sales, pros tu on, begging, pe y the ), even
if they nevertheless cons tute some forms of ac vi es and o en are, one way
or another, remunera ve and necessary.
Chapter 3: The use of drugs

At first a consequence, then progressively one of the causes of some unique
and psychologically explosive cocktails which combine, for each child in a street
situa on, dierent factors such as memories of past suering, complex current
reali es and an uncertain future, the use of more or less hallucinatory, more or
less dangerous drugs cannot be ignored.
Chapter 4: Sexuality, vulnerability to abuses and other risks

Before we start any working process with a child in a street situa on, we have
to analyze and be aware of the risks and abuses inherent in his everyday life in
such a context. The child, on his own and partly or completely isolated from his
family context, is vulnerable and there are a lot of predators: adults, teenagers,
other children
Chapter 5: Social context, group iden ty and conflicts

It is obvious that the child in a street situa on is not an isolated being. He is
o en a member of a group which reacts against other groups in a specific social
context. Of course, the child, such as any individual, builds an image of what
surrounds him, assigning dierent roles to everyone. Opponent, foil, prey, daily
quest Social context also implies conflicts.
Introduction of the chapters in this study
33
Chapter 6: Belief, cultural prac ces, awareness of ones class and na onal
pride
Very closely ed to the previous chapter, this one focuses on the link between
the child and his culture, his tradi ons and his feeling of belonging to a social
class or to a na on. Living on the street also means belonging to something, but
what is the link to society? What are the borrowings?
Chapter 7: Educa on, future perspec ves, dreams and convic ons
This is a key point, should we consider that the transi on from childhood to
adolescence, then to adulthood involves a whole range of acquisi ons. It is the
same for the fact of being socially integrated and integrable. And yet, the child
in a street situa on is a priori in diculty or completely excluded from two
basic agents involved in these acquisi ons: school and family. What, however,
is the reality?
Finally, in chapter 8, we will get the opportunity to set to music these dierent
visions in order to make a specific analysis: the one concerning the special
rela onship which, within the tourist Thamel area, binds street children and
travelers from all around the world together.
34
National perspective
By Madhav Pradhan
CWIN President (Nepal)
With street children in Nepal

The issue of street children is not a new phenomenon in Nepal. It is a reality
of all urban ci es and Kathmandu Valley is not remote of the problem of street
children. Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN) es mate the number of street children
to 1500 in the Kathmandu Valley. Lack of awareness among parents; family
disintegra on; domes c violence; poor economic condi ons; lack of proper
child-centred interven ons in rural areas; a weak educa on system; insensi ve
tradi ons that discourage children; exis ng exploita ve social rela ons; unsafe
migra on; growing a rac on towards urban ci es; and peer influence are main
reasons for children to come to the streets for their survival.
Once on the streets, the children get absorbed in the big bad world of the urban
streets; they get introduced to substance use; start ge ng engaged in delinquent
behaviors, and get pushed by their peers or experience pressure from the gangs
to get involved in criminal ac vi es. While they are perceived as rowdy or
bad, they are actually vic ms of many kinds of abuse and exploita on such as
sexual abuse, chea ng, bea ng and torture by police; use by drug peddlers; etc.
They are much more vulnerable to HIV infec on as they live in groups and share
syringes, have unsafe sexual rela ons and experience increasing sexual abuse
from outsiders and from their own peers.
There are some nine organiza ons working directly with street children in the valley.
They are in a network called Na onal Alliance of Organiza ons Working with Street
Children (NAOSC) ini ated by CWIN in 2004. Member organiza ons of the NAOSC are
carrying out dierent interven ons such as drop in centres, health services, educa onal
and voca onal support, residen al centres, field works and awareness ac vi es.
However, there are some gaps in the interven ons. There are some interven ons
which are purely welfare based that provide on the street services and encourage
street children to remain on the streets. Unless there is a realiza on among the
stakeholders to address the issue of street children with rights based approach,
street childrens problems will become more challenging.
National perspective by Madhav Pradhan
35
CWINs direct work with street children since 1989 has proved that socializa on, social
reintegra on and empowerment of street children are possible, provided they receive
respect, concerted a en on and con nual follow-ups. CWIN has number of success
stories to be inspired to con nue its work with street children.
Street Children are a unique group of children who are basically deprived of parental
love, care and understanding. From a very young age, these children are abandoned
and thrown out on the street; therefore they need special a en on and care for
their overall development. Experience has proven that ins tu onal care or forceful
reunifica ons with their family are not prac cal solu ons to their problem. Without
first mo va ng and healing their socio-psychological problems for them and iden fying
their problems, no program can properly respond to their needs. For this, not only
resources, but a commitment on the part of the social workers and enough resources
are required.
Working with street children is not an easy task. It is not a problem that can be solved by
a simple mathema cal formula. On the contrary, it requires the dedica on, a en on,
passion and commitment of the society and state. This is not unlike other socio-
economic problems that increase with the urbaniza on of the country and globaliza on
of the interna onal market. Therefore, one should think about this problem before it
takes an even more serious turn.
The NGOs which are working on this issue should consider a social mobiliza on
program in order to make people aware of the extent of the problem. They have taken
ini a ves in highligh ng the issues and advoca ng the rights of the street children.
However, there has been enough barriers, lack of coopera on and inspira on to
such ini a ves from government departments. Recognizing that such a problem is
beyond the capacity of the state alone to solve, the government should extend its
support to NGOs work and create an atmosphere of goodwill where they operate their
ac vi es without harassment and tension. In a country like ours, where bureaucracy is
a serious na onal problem, sincerity in the social service sector is a tough job for the
government machinery. The best ways for the government to help is to iden fy and
recognize the dedicated social ac on groups and extend support to their ac vi es. The
government should coordinate the ac vi es of NGOs and support them in carrying
out their ac vi es for the benefit of these children. Similarly, the government
should also give more a en on to develop integrated child protec on programs.
Madhav Pradhan
36
By Krishna Thapa
VOC President (Nepal)
Life of children living in the street without any care !!!

I wanted to be loved by my parents and have a good educa on so I would be
able to take care of them and educate my siblings but due to their alcoholic habit,
now Im a drug addict and I live in the street
This is the conclusion of the story of a child living in the street which is representa ve
of many others.
Children in dilapidated condi ons running around piles of dirt are a common
sight in Kathmandu. These poor human beings, commonly known as Khates,
are a shame for the civilized Nepalese society.
These children come from various places in Nepal because of poverty,

discrimina on, exploita on and/or abuse. Rags picking, street selling and begging
are the most important ac vi es of these children. We can put these children
in the following categories :
a. Street-Living
b. Street-Working
c. Street family
Street living children are those who are living in the street on their own. They
are abandoned or have lost their families. Street working children spend most
of their me working on the streets but return home on a regular basis whereas
street family children are those who are in this situa on with their families.
There are no reliable sta s cs for the number of street children living in Nepal.
They are around 5000 all over Nepal and 1200-1500 in Kathmandu. Another
research, done by CCWB coordina ng with NAOSC members in 2007, count the
number of street children to 796, but the members of CCWB are not convinced
by the methodology used in the research. Based on our internal data, we note
that the total number of street children surveyed can be split like following :
National perspective by Krishna Thapa
37
25% of them are street working and 25% are street family children. The remaining
50% are street living children. Another VOC report indicate that 40% of those
children are living in the street without contac ng their family for 3 to 5 years.
Street children are around 210 in Pokhara, 40 in Narayanghat, 65 in Hetauda and

100 in Dharan. NAOSC data indicates the number of children coming to the street
each year to be equivalent to the number of children rescued and rehabilitated.
The neighboring rural area of Kathmandu valley is the major place from which
children flock to Kathmandu. The highest number of street children is from the
ethnic Tamang community.
The data on street children looks superficial but it can be jus fied when we take
the number of organiza ons working for street children into considera on and
the fact that many of them turn into adults each year.
Who is more likely to become a street child?

Children aected by armed conflict.
Children who are separated from their families.
Children who run away from their families to escape violence and abuse.
Children employed as workers in restaurants, factories, transporta on
services, housekeeping, carriers and rag pickers: they are all exposed to
exploita on and abuse due to the long working hours, extra workloads,
low wages and verbal, physical and mental harassment.
What does it mean to be a child living on the street?

Lack of self-esteem and respect from others
Lack of future perspec ves
Lack of confidence and sense of belonging
Lack of social interac on
Lack of proper care and fulfilment of basic needs
Lack of psycho-social/moral support
Vulnerability to various kinds of abuses, violence, exploita on, s gma za on,
malnutri on, diseases, and sexually transmi ed diseases
Lack of sense of obliga on/responsibility towards society.
38
Factors influencing children to leave their families
There are dierent sets of factors that may prompt a child to leave home. These
factors could be grouped into categories like: economic factors such as poverty,
a low standard of living, the child being sent to work at an early age; familial
factors such as conflicts in the family/domes c violence, having a step-parent who
was abusive, lack of love and care; social factors such as pressure from peers to
move away from home, a rac on of city life as compared to the life of the rural
areas; psychological factors such as the need to assert ones independence, the
need for more a en on, and so on.
There is s ll a prac ce of using children for household chores in Nepal. Parents

want their children to help them in their daily household works and keep them
away from an opportunity to get educa on. when this situa on persists, the child
believes that he can be economically independent even if he leaves his home.
Situation of the children in the Street

Dicul es and problems faced on street:
A. Physical Problems :
Lack of Adequate Nutri on: Even though many street children can usually get
some amount of food to eat, they do not have nutri ous or balanced diets. This
deficiency thus manifests itself in the form of anemia, malnutri on, and vitamin
deficiencies.
Homelessness: The children who choose the streets as their home face the
most acute problems of housing. They are vulnerable to all ranges of weather
condi ons be it the burning heat of summer, the rainstorms or the chilly winter
nights. These children do not suer merely from physical homelessness, but also
from a psychological homelessness since they have nowhere to belong. The
homes they leave behind no longer remain their havens; the streets provide no
comfort, and society does not accept them.
Health Problems: Street children live in an atmosphere of con nued physical

and mental strain. Many of them rummage through the garbage to find food,
others go hungry for days drinking water or taking drugs to diminish their pangs
of hunger. All street children suer from severe malnutri on and various kinds of
deficiencies. The consump on of tobacco, alcohol or drugs retards their growth
39
at an early age. Due to exposure to dust and other pollutants while they work
near trac junc ons and other congested places, they suer from bronchi s,
asthma and even severe tuberculosis. Since they do not have the opportunity
to bathe for several days at a me, and because of the unhygienic condi ons
in which they live, they are prone to skin diseases such as scabies, ulcers and
rashes. Many street children have no knowledge / have limited knowledge about
hygiene or Sexually Transmi ed Diseases (STDs). As a result, they encounter
sexual and reproduc ve health problems such as STDs, HIV / AIDS (common
to street boys and girls), unwanted pregnancies, premature births, and unsafe
abor ons (specific to street girls). The lack of opportunity to ever visit a doctor
further compounds all these health problems.
B. Psychological Problems:
A Stressful Past: The situa ons and events that lead children to take to the
streets may have an on-going impact on their well-being and may deprive them of
emo onal, economic, and other kinds of support for many successive years. The
past also plays a role in predisposing street children to become more vulnerable
to emo onal, social, and psychological disorders in the future.
A Transitory Lifestyle: Street children frequently move from district to district,

town to town, and city to city. In majority of instances, they do this by choice, but
at other mes, they are forced to keep moving in order to hide from the police,
welfare authori es, and gangsters. This evasive lifestyle results in problems of
social isola on and loneliness and leads to dicul es in developing emo onal
a achments to other human beings.
Substance Abuse: Many street children resort to using psychoac ve substances

(such as alcohol and drugs) in an a empt to escape from the overwhelming
pressure of their trauma c past and their daily problems. This, in turn, can lead
to medical problems due to overdoses, an increase in the probability of accidents,
violence and unprotected sex. Over me, it can lead to complica ons such as
brain and liver damage, and also to diseases like HIV / AIDS.
Unlearning of Learned Behavior: All children learn a set of moral values and
moral behavior in their early years of family life. The children who leave home
and begin to live on the streets soon realize that the values their family taught
them (such as honesty, integrity, etc.) are not conducive to their survival on the
streets. At mes they are forced to steal food and money because they have none
40
of their own. They have to swallow their pride in order to beg for food or money.
They learn to live without a daily bath, in unhygienic and unsanitary condi ons.
They learn to let go of their shame when they have no clothes or when they have
only an undergarment to wear.
C. Social Problems:
Depriva on of Needs and Lack of Resources and Opportuni es: The various needs
of street children are rarely met. They frequently get hungry, wear torn, ta ered
and dirty clothes or some mes, no clothes at all. They have no permanent place
to stay, no educa onal facili es, no facili es for hygiene and in brief, no facili es
at all. Psychologically, they are exploited and abused, thus their basic needs of
security and happiness are not met. Socio-culturally, they lack opportuni es for
healthy recrea on and lack social acceptance.
Exploita on: Children on the street have to work to survive. Since they have no
skills with which to bargain for fair pay or to fight for their rights, they are very
vulnerable to employers who look to make a profit on them. Frequently, they
are forced to work for 10-12 hours a day for few rupees or in exchange for just
one square meal a day. Besides all this, abuse and harassment - either physical
or sexual, by persons in authority, be they police personnel or others is not
uncommon. Besides police, street children are frequently used by underworld
gangsters or by older street boys bullying them and involving them in illegal
works. If the children do not obey, they are threatened, beaten and some mes,
in extreme cases even killed.
S gma za on: People in society generally perceive street children as dicult

children who are out to cause trouble. The general misconcep on is that street
children are addicts, uncontrollable and violent, have no emo ons or moral values,
and so on. As a result of these misconcep ons, people tend to be unsympathe c
and indierent to the actual plight of street children. This lack of social acceptance
is what pushes them away from mainstream society and forces them to survive
on the fringes of the social system.
It is important to have comprehensives programs which allow and provide

opportuni es to develop gradually and help their re-socializa on in a sustainable
way.
Krishna Thapa
41
International perspective
By Edwin de Boev
Director/Coordinator
Dynamo Interna onal / The Interna onal Network of Social Street Workers
On behalf of the whole interna onal network of social street workers which
brings together the field workers from about 50 countries, Im delighted with
the publica on of this study on the topic of children working and/or living on
the street in Nepal.
The approach is all the more important that it tries to link prac ce to theory
which is essen al to accurately understand the reality of the street.
It is also an invita on for other colleagues, street workers, members of the

interna onal network, to undertake such studies in their own countries.
CPCS is an ac ve member of our network and the work which is done there by
street workers deserves our greatest respect. I wanted to par cularly congratulate
them for the quality of their ac ons on the field and their abili es to think that
field.
The concept of street children is beyond a doubt the most global and the
most visible, certainly the most used defini on, partly thanks to the interest
the international organizations, as well as some governments, have in it.
However, this concept overshadows the complex social interac ons inherent
to this phenomenon and reduces it to problems of family abandonment and to
lacks of the educa onal system. It denies the recogni on of ci zenship through
rights, considering this popula on as objects of protec on and/or maladjusted
individuals. That is why the ini a ves by governments and private ins tu ons
which try to help children in a street situa on usually have li le impact, for they
dont take into account par cipa ve processes nor social learnings, rather giving
priority to ins tu onal imprisonment and/or social cleaning. The other extreme
of the vision of charity is the criminaliza on of poverty as a common answer,
by the authori es, to the street phenomenon. In most countries, there is no
appropriate public and budget policies specially dedicated to this social group.
42
Children surviving on the streets are not only a reality in the countries with a low
level of development where the disparity in the alloca on of wealth is obvious.
It is also a reality in Europe and in North America.
The labelling of which a child in a street situa on is the object is par cularly
prejudicial and worrying. Pointed at, being a pe y criminal or a drug addict
becomes a more enviable posi on than being nothing.
This labelling is in line with a phenomenon of s gma za on through which

a virtual iden ty bit-by-bit replaces the real iden ty of the most weakened.
Representa ons and prejudice thus prevail over reality.
And yet, we have to become aware of how much the daily experience of the one
who is s gma zed is fraught with consequences for the individual and his circle.
Many cases of physical and mental abuses are observed on the field which are
linked to this s gma za on.
The gap le by the State and the ins tu ons, which dont take into considera on
the needs of the most helpless and excluded people enabled the authori es
and/or the associa ve world to react, crea ng the street social work, despite
the interna onal context in which we are living, which focuses more on the
symptoms than on the causes. Through his story and his topicality, street social
work is an excellent pointer and analyzer of the social space, of its structure and
of the power struggles which cross our socie es.
The aim of these field workers is to be approachable, as easily and as simply as

possible, by children, youth and adults who live in precarious condi ons and
suer from many forms of exclusion.
Because he is close to or integrated into the most excluded environments, the

street worker, along with social help desks, is the first and the last link in the
educa onal chain when all the other authori es have failed. He is also a link
which enables to mobilize the educa onal and social authori es to act in order
to oer new perspec ves to the children in a street situa on.
de Boev, Edwin
International perspective by Edwin de Boev

43
CHAPTER ONE
A JOURNEY TO THE STREET
CPCS
ARTICLE 6 (CRC) : Every child has the inherent
right to life survival and development
The right to live, the right to be and the right to develop properly are distant
dreams for the street children.
Chapter 1: A Journey to the Street
46
Introduction
In Nepal, as everywhere else, the reasons which lead the child to get to the street
are numerous and complex. Poverty, family conflicts and the pursuit of freedom
appear to be the most frequently encountered causes.
Of course, a child arrives on the street a erwards and dependent on the interac on
of dierent factors. Each story is dierent; each child has got his own past.
Usually, in Nepal, a child is not born in a street situa on, hence the importance
to look into his past, to wonder about the road on which the circumstances
of life pushed him down.
The child is subjected to a number of cultural, poli cal and social pressures which
pass through family and which some mes lead him to partly or completely try
and live on the street.
The situa on of the family is thus obviously a key factor which has to be taken
into account when one tries to encapsulate the childs past.
Introduction
47
Way of separa on
The majority of the street children (58%) ran away from their home or families.
One out of six children (16%) le with authoriza on from their parents/guardians
and 20% of the children men oned that they separated from their family due
to other reasons.
Way of separa on
100
80
60 58
40
% age
16 20
20
2 4
0
Ran away Le with Lost Other No response
authoriza on

48
Family status
More than three in five children had both parents alive (61%) while almost a
third of the children came from a single parent family (father died 16%; mother
died 15%). 7% of the children were parentless.
Both parents alive
Mother dead
Father dead
Both parents dead
No response
Dont know/Unknown
0 20 40 60
% age
49
Missing family
A majority of the children (67%) reported that they missed their family while one
forth of the children (24%) men oned they did not miss their family.
Miss family
No response
9%
No 24%
Yes 67%
Stepparents
The majority of the children do not have stepparents. However, more than one
fourth of the children (26%) had a stepmother at home. Similarly, 17% of the
children reported that they had a stepfather at home.
Stepmother at home
Yes 26%
No response No 73%
1%

50
Stepfather at home
Yes 17%
No 81%
No response
2%
Land and house ownership

The majority of the childrens families owned land (65%) and owned a house
(63%) while 29% of the respondents reported that their families did not own
any land or house.
Ownership of land and house

100
80
65 63
60
40
% age
29 29
20
3 4 6
2
0
Land House
Yes No Dont know No response
51
Perceived economic status of households
More than two thirds of the children (69%) considered their families to be either
very poor or poor while about one fourth of the children (24%) placed their
families in the middle class.
Perceived economic status of households
Upper class
Middle class
Poor
Very poor
No response
0 10 20 30 40 50
% age
Occupa onal status of parents

The main occupa ons of the respondents fathers was laborer (19%) followed by
farmer (12%). 7% of the childrens fathers were drivers while 6% of the children
reported that their father was shopkeeper.
More than two in five children (41%) reported that their mother worked as a
housewife, while 10% were laborers and 5% farmers.

52
% age % age
0
10
20
30
40
50
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
41
19
Housewife Laborer
10
12
Laborer Farmer
5
6
Farmer Shopkeeper
3
7
Rag picker Driver
53
2
1
Servant Painter
Fathers occupa on
2
Mothers occupa on
4
Shopkeeper Manson
2
2
Manson Rag picker

2
12
Other Street Vender
24
24
Unknown Other
Reasons for coming to live in the Street
Respondents men oned many reasons for coming to the street. To earn money,
convinced by a friend and violence at home were the most commonly cited
reasons. One third of the children reported that to earn money was the main
reason for coming to live on the street while 24% men oned convinced by their
friend to live on the street as the primary mo ve. Close to 20% cited violence
at home as the reason to leave. A significant propor on of the children also
reported dream of city (10%), and for food (10%) as reasons for leaving home
and coming to live in the street. Few children reported the reasons for coming
to live in the street were a racted by NGOs and because of poli cal situa on.
Reason to go on the street
Violence at
home 19%
Dream of city
Convinced by a 10%
friend 24%
For food
10%
A racted by
NGO 3 %
Because of
To earn poli cal
money 33 % situa on 1%

54
Family nearby
About half of the children (48%) men oned that they have a family member
nearby or in the city where the children are staying. On the other hand, 40% of
the children reported that none of their family members are staying in the city
where the respondents are staying.
The remaining 12% of the children were either ignorant of or did not reply on
the presence of family members nearby.
Presence of family member nearby
Yes
48%
No
40%
No response
12%
55
Qualitative approach: observations and first-hand
accounts
The reasons which lead children to the street are mul ple and complex: socio-
economic conditions in the village, disintegration of the family cell (often
associated with alcohol), domes c violence, the a rac on of the city, poli cal
instability, friends pressure, etc. It is o en within the interac on of all these
factors (economic, poli cal and social) that the real reasons are to be found. Each
group of people crossing the path of these children is more or less part of one of
these causes (departure to the street or willingness to stay there).
Some families send their own children to work in the streets. Parents use children
as a means of earning money. At the same me, alcohol consump on among
many fathers and the associated violence o en results in a child deciding to
leave the family, the home and go to the city. Normally, the child lives alone or
with another street dweller, experiencing the same situa on. They then place
all their dreams in the myth of the city.
At home in the village, the child undergoes a number of cultural, poli cal and
social pressures that pass through the family. This pressure o en pushes the child
towards trying the adventure of living in the street. The rela onship with the
family is therefore a key element in this phenomenon. Unemployment, working
condi ons and other pi ful economic condi ons clearly promote a disloca on of
family links. This situa on worsens when the family father becomes a drunkard.
O en, as long as the father earns the money necessary to run his household,
everything is fine. Otherwise, it is the whole family who become poten al vic ms.
There is a misconcep on that most street children do not have any parents or
have been thrown out of their homes. For a large majority, the street children
themselves made the decision to leave their household, allowing for me and
space for eventual back to home perspec ves to be formed.
Ashmita:
I used to live with my younger brother and my parents who were laboring. They
were alcoholic. They spent the remaining money on food. Me and my brother,
we were ba ered and scolded harshly by our parents. I didnt want to stay at

56
home any longer so I le . Now I am living in Kathmandu and I manage to get
some food by begging beside the temple.
Srijana:
I come from Sindhupalchowk. I am thirteen now. I lost my father when I was
young, then I went on living with my mother and my sister. My mother le me
alone one night and never came back. I knew that she got married to another
man. I went to see my elder sister whod got married. My brother-in-law treated
me well in the beginning but, gradually, he started behaving badly so I le my
sisters place and came to Kathmandu by bus. Now I am living in Mitra Park and
I beg on the street for survival. I found a group there. We are four girls.
Arjun:
I am from Kapan and I am 12 years old now. I s ll have my parents and a brother.
I went to school un l grade 3. My parents used to ba er me when I didnt study
well. My mother loved me much. I never cared for my studies because of my bad
fellows. Then I le home and started living on the street. I use magnets to pull out
coins/money from the river and I also rob money and gold from the dead bodies.
Keshawa T:
When I was small my mother got married to another man and then my father
married my stepmother. When I was 5 years old, my stepmother stole gold from
our neighbor. I ran away from the house by public bus, but I had no money at
that me, so I hid at the back of the bus. The bus sta saw me but didnt ask me
money. They even gave me a night meal. Later on, I went to school un l grade
4 at Shree Bhawanisower Lower secondary school, in Neyaganu. My father was
doing witchcra and fishing in the village.
Then I went to Kathmandu and I started to sleep on the street. In the morning, I
used to beg in the Bus Park and collected 70 to 100 rupees a day. At first, I spent
it on food and snacks; I didnt use any type of drugs at that me. Then another
youth stole a cycle in the Bus Park but I was accused of stealing it and I ended
up in Hanuman Dhoka. I wept on the street, but nobody asked me why I was
crying. That is when one boy came talking to me. He had cigare es and a plas c
bag in his hands. His name was Arjun Pandey. He gave me a cigare e. When I
smoke it, I coughed.
Qualitative approach: observations and first-hand accounts
57
Now, I have many friends on the street. I smoke cigare es, use dendrite and drink
whisky. I know that cigare es and dendrite arent good for the health, but I feel
cold on the street at night. I also miss my family and I feel lonely on the street.
So I take it. When Ive got some money, I always spend it.
Raju:
I was seven years old then. My mother got married to another man. My father,
my two sisters and I were living in the Kotheshwor area. My father was laboring
there. I went to the Sanchetana Lower School un l grade 1. I went to my sisters
home to look a er her baby. She had a young neighbor who was the same age
as me and we became friends. Some mes, we went to visit Bhaktapur place and
at other mes we went to the movies. When we went to the cinema, we stayed
in there the whole night. I also smoked cigare es with him. I feel dizzy when I
smoke too fast, it is fun. Then, I made some friends on the street and I didnt
want to go back to my father and sisters, so I started living with my friends all the
me. Slowly, I started to take dendrite and to smoke cigare es and marijuana.
At first, it was fun and I enjoyed living on the street. When I was a small boy, I
used to beg on the street and to eat some meals and other things. Now, Im s ll
begging and I collect from 200 to 250 rupees a day, but I spend all my money on
dendrite, cigare es and local beers.
Im s ll living on the street, but now I feel unhappy because some street youth
always rob the money I collected. Some mes they also ba er me, as well as the
police who arrest us too, and who tell us not to sleep on the street. I want to
learn to sing and to become a famous singer in Nepal.
Shiva:
I am 12 years old. My family was living in Pokhara. They were compelled to leave
because they didnt pay the rent in me. We were 4: my father, my mother, my
sister and me, but my mother passed away. My father was fare collector on the
bus and my sister worked as a servant. No one cared about me and so I ran away
from my family. Now I live in Gongabu with a group of friends. We are 10. Living
in a group is pleasant because we can earn more money and we are not to be
afraid of being robbed by another group. Once, my friends raped some girls and
were arrested by the police.

58
Deepak:
Ive been living on the street since 2010. I come from Majuwa. We are six in our
family. My father drives a tricycle for a living and my mother works as a dishwasher.
My elder brother went to India to find a job and my elder sister also works as
a dishwasher in a hotel in Kathmandu. My younger brother follows the rehab
program provided by CPCS in Butwal. I went to school un l grade 1 but then I
dropped school. My friends from the slums persuaded me to go and earn money
on the street. Im earning 100 rupees a day and we own a house and a small plot
of land in the slums. Now I also sni glue. In the future, I want to be a policeman.
Purna:
Ive been living on the street for a year now. I went to school un l grade 2 in
Butwal. I come from Rupandehi. We are 7 in our family. My father labors. We
have our own house. I smoke cigare es and I sni glue. Im sleeping on the
street. I work as a rag-picker and I sell my goods to a collector. I earn 50 to 60
rupees a day. I dont want to go back home because my family would force me
to con nue school.
Chhi j S:
I come from Okhaldunga. My father went abroad for his job. We are now living
in Jorpa -Kathmandu. My mother is a laborer and me and my sister, we went
to the Binayak Secondary School in Gothatar. One day, we came back from the
school to find an empty room. The neighbors told us that our mother moved
away, but they didnt know where she went. They gave us food, which we ate, but
then we had to leave the room. We had to sleep on the street. It is very dicult
to sleep outside at night. We hid our bags and our books inside some hubs and
we tried to sleep under a roof.
Prakash:
Im from Illam. I ran away from my house because there was a lot of domes c
violence there. My father was an alcoholic and he ba ered me and my mother
every day, without any reason. I dont know what the love of a father is. Our
economic status was very low and so we had to face the same rou ne every day.
That is why I went to live in the capital. I spent about 2 or 3 years on the street
and survived as a servant. But they were never happy with my work, there was
always complaining and I was humiliated in each and every step that I took. I
was feeling unhappy and so I le that place.
Qualitative approach: observations and first-hand accounts
59
Ram Baniya (11 years):
I am from Routahat, but now I live in the Pashupa area. Ive got 3 brothers, we
are all begging on the street at busy intersec ons and in the temples. We spend
the money we collect on food, glue and cigare es, but we also save a li le to give
it to our mother. From me to me, I go to our mothers room and some mes I
stay there overnight. But most of the me I sleep on the street. My father died
when I was younger and my mother works as a laborer.
If I dont go back to my mothers room, she is searching for me because she relies
on us. I dont like going back there because of my friends. Im also sning glue.

60
By Pradeep Parajuli and Wim De Becker
Social Worker and Country Director
Kids Shangrila Home (Nepal)
When you walk the streets of Kathmandu, be it in day me or during the night, it
is hard not to no ce the many children and adolescents who are obviously living
on those streets. Some of them ended up there due to reasons beyond their will;
orphans who are not taken care of by anyone, or children whose parents live
on the streets as well. But this is only a minority among the street children. For
most of them it was a choice they made.
It is hard to imagine what could possibly drive a child, and o en a very young
child, to decide to leave his/her home and run o to the big city where they
have no security whatsoever and where nobody is wai ng for them. S ll, for
many children in Nepal the choice is obvious because in many cases they have
no security, nor is there anybody wai ng for them in their homes. The choice is
always out of despair, and mostly despair about poverty and everything that is
connected with it. Hunger, being deprived of educa on, being forced to beg or
to work, domes c violence and relentless harassment are the main reasons that
cause a child to hit the streets.
Poverty doesnt bring out the best in people. Alcoholism is quite common and
o en causes violence in the underprivileged communi es. Many children are
vic mized by the violence and aggression of their family members and get abused
and mistreated.
Husbands abandon their wives and leave them to take care of their children on
their own. Wives leave their husbands to marry another man and get a chance
to start again or simply to survive, mostly leaving their children behind because
the new husband will not accept them. Those who are le alone and cannot cope
with raising their children will o en marry again. Many children are bullied and
harassed by their stepmothers or stepfathers, up to the point that they cannot
take it anymore.
National perspective by Pradeep Parajuli and Wim De Becker
61
And then there is the a rac on of the big city, with high hopes of job opportunity,
educa on, adventure, excitement, money Not all of the children really need to
leave their homes. Not all of them were desperate in the sense that they could
not have survived in their family environment. Some of them run away because
of having made a mistake and being afraid of what the consequences might be
when they are discovered. They stole money from their parents or they got caught
doing illegal stu. So they leave and are too scared, or too proud, to go back.
Those who come to the city with great expecta ons of finding work are easy
vic ms. They are lured into working in carpet factories or brick kilns or stone
quarries as cheap laborers, or even as slaves, and they prefer the street life to
the horrible condi ons in their work places.
So many dierent stories are heard, so many dierent reasons why. But the fact
is that although most children want to get out of the street life and are ready
to accept any chance of rehabilita on into the Nepalese society, there are very
few who actually want to go back to their village to live there. If, with the help
of an organiza on, a posi ve contact can be made between child and family;
this will be a very important step in the social rehabilita on process of the child,
who experiences this event as a big burden falling o of his shoulders. But s ll
most of them will want to finalize their social rehab program and find a job and
a room in the city on whose streets they have lived for so long.
Pradeep Parajuli and Wim De Becker

62
By Flavia Shaw-Jackson
Founder/Execu ve Director
FACE for Children in Need (Egypt)
Cairo. Egypt. It is 11 pm. Fraise it is her name is clapping her hands. Her face
is ligh ng up. She is got a childs smile, as we love it: happy, lively, and irresis ble.
She has been wai ng for that moment for hours. She just turned five. Her dark li le
curls are ed at the back of her head with a hair e. She is beau ful. Grubby, but
beau ful. Her sister, Banane, is more reserved. She, too, is happy that we finally
got there, with games, aec on and soothing words. But she holds slightly back.
There is something of a mist of sadness in her eyes. This expression that covers the
face of the children who already dont expect anything from life anymore. What
did life give her so far? Suering, depriva ons, starva on, fear and loneliness.
The economic situa on in Egypt is very dicult and the huge growth of the
popula on is a real burden for this country: between 1975 and 2001, the popula on
of Egypt grew by 88%. Even if it is a very dynamic town, Cairo, the capital city,
shows real overcrowding and poverty problems, the popula on a racted by
this city (20 million) cannot manage to find a job or an accommoda on. The
situa on of the children is par cularly precarious. There is a total amount of
eight million children under five. In Cairo, there are between 200,000 and one
million abandoned children who are le to their own devices; at the mercy of
trackers and of the police. These children who, before, mostly lived in a house
in Cairo ended up on the street because of domes c violence, drugs, alcoholism,
death of a parent, family flare-up or simply because of economic collapse. But
the result is the same: these youth find themselves forced to survive on the
streets of Cairo, either picking rubbish, begging or living on the sly in the slums.
They are very vulnerable to abuses, to exploita on or to police violence. Some
of them are able to survive through li le jobs, selling objects they found or some
food. Many others die on the street. Without any help, form of educa on, love,
aec on or tenderness, these children have no future and their life expectancy
remains appallingly low.
Mangue, the last born girl, is also bound to spend years struggling for survival in
this hos le city. She just turned 15 months. She doesnt walk. She is born with
International perspective by Flavia Shaw-Jackson
63
a malforma on which keeps her legs tucked under her frail li le body. But who,
here, is going to care for her, for her health, for her growth curve? Mangue is
buried in her mothers arms, Samira, a young 35 year old Egyp an who is si ng
on the sidewalk of a noisy Cairo avenue. She has also got three other boys who
are older and who try to survive alone in this megalopolis.
Thirty-five years old, six children. And Samira doesnt have anything le . Her
husband who is bigamous and preferred to se le in the house with his new
young spouse repudiated her. She sleeps on a straw ma ress with her children.
She has got nothing le . One by one, she sells packs of paper handkerchiefs
for a few piasters. She was wai ng for us too, for our team of social workers,
psychologists and pediatricians who scour the streets of Cairo at night in search
of those street children.
These late-night expedi ons are one of the ac vi es essen al to establish a

contact with the Cairo street children. It is useless to open centers to cater for
the youth without having previously gained the confidence of these children
and teenagers who distrust every organiza on where they could lose even a
bit of freedom their one and only capital. We thus have to reach out to them.
So, Fraise is the one who longs the most. The members of the team take some
games for the children out of their backpacks. Fraise rushes for the jigsaw puzzles.
She loves to assemble the pieces and to make Dumbo, Mickey or Donald appear.
Then she grabs the colour pencils we hold out to her in her li le hand. A real
treasure for her. Kneeling, she takes great care not to go beyond the outlines of
the character she is colouring red, yellow, blue. She shows us her work. Wonderful!
Li le Fraise. She then savours the milk box and the cereal bar. A feast. Finally, she
throws herself into our arms, making sure that we would come back tomorrow.
Yes, we promise you, Fraise.
We thus le Banane, Fraise and Mangue. A few hundred meters farther, it is

another group of children who look out for our arrival. These children are older.
Youssef gives the signal to his friends who come along, running. Another one, who
is sleeping on the ground wrapped in a blanket, wakes up with the others shou ng
with joy. In the end, they are about ten, gathering together in a circle. Here, our
goal is not to play, but to make these young teenagers talk. We hope to squeeze
a thought, a feeling or a wish out of their some mes-stubborn minds. Most of
them are blocked o from the outside world, in an inner prison. They did not

64
have any semblance of a childhood. They only know the law of the street the
jungle. They have to struggle to live, to eat and to make a name for themselves
among the others. They have to escape the police raids, the trackers and,
the latest danger, those sorts of pirates who organize child hunts. Tracking in
human organs is fairly profitable. In early November, two teenagers have been
found disemboweled.
The discussion has a somewhat slow start. To provoke a debate, a social worker
suggests throwing a ball. The one who gets it can say what his dream is.
Hishman: Id like people to stop hi ng me
Aly: Me, Id like to see my mom again. I havent seen her for 18 years.
Said hesitates. He looks me right in the eyes. Me, Id like to die or to go back
to your country with you.
As for Ahmed, he came to the gathering to be healed. His forearm is covered

in knife cuts. The last one became infected and the tough skin cannot manage
to heal anymore. Why does he inflict injuries on himself? When he is taken in
a police raid, he slices through his arm and threatens the policemen by saying
that they gave him too much of a bea ng.
These children and their worn faces alone could jus fy the crea on of FACE.
Helping; relieving; giving. Giving, without expec ng anything. Giving aec on
and love. Giving a chance to those who were born on the wrong side
Flavia Shaw-Jackson
International perspective by Flavia Shaw-Jackson
65
Key Findings
O Although the story of each child in a street situa on is dierent; the vicious
cycle of poverty is a constant.
Runaway
Poverty
Abuse, mistreatment,
exploita on
Hunger, no educa on, forced

to beg or work, violence,
Alcoholism, violence, harrassment
abandonment
O Rela onships with the family past, present and future are the key to
the lives and livelihood of the children.
O Over 60% of the children s ll had both parents alive and two thirds missed
their families. These sta s cs may prove a powerful mo va on to help
reunify a street child with his family.
O Whilst the majority of the families of street children own land or houses,
they are s ll perceived as poor or very poor. This percep on may have
ini ally lead 43% of the children to the street for food or to earn money
for themselves and their families.

66
O 15% of the children in a street situa on were from the eastern Terai district
of Sunsari.
O Gaining the trust of the children in a street situa on is paramount. Once

you have their trust you can gain their respect. Only then, a er gaining
their confidence, can one reach out and assist them to their needs.
Loss of freedom is a primary reason why most children do not want to get
out of the streets. Fair propor ons are ready to accept rehabilita on but
very few want to live or return to their village. Their first preference seems
to be rehabilitated, get a job and a room, but in their home the city.
Key Findings
67
CHAPTER TWO
THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES
CPCS
ARTICLE 32 & 36 (CRC) : Children must be protect-
ed from economic exploita on from (hazardous)
work (and) all other forms of exploita on
Working on the street means begging, picking plas c items, collec ng money
in public transport, washing plates, etc. For a few rupees, without any working
regula ons, any rights or any rest, they are misused.
Chapter 2: The Working Conditions and Daily Activities
70
Introduction
In Nepal as everywhere else, a child in a street situa on is, of course, gainfully

employed. This ac vity can be legal, less legal or completely illegal.
Work thus plays a vital role in the street childrens lives, enabling them to survive
and to be independent. Working in the street environment clearly poses many
hazards and risks to the children living on the street.
However, the role of the childs own agency in nego a ng these risks plays an
important part in determining his vulnerability. The assump on that children
automa cally want to leave the street when oered another op on is a mistaken
no on.
While organiza ons oer services for the children who want to move on from
the street, an aspect frequently overlooked is the need to work in the street
environment to protect those children, to mo vate them and to prepare them
Introduction
71
to move on. Most children living on the street work for their own income and
enjoy many kinds of freedoms because of this.
Many may see their current situa on in a posi ve way.
Among the various kinds of ac vi es, let us first men on plas c picking. Just to
remind you: plas c pickers are the children we may see on the Nepali streets
with a big bag and a picking s ck. They wander about the streets in search for
recyclable rubbish they sell by the kilogram. Some of them enjoy some kind of
family life, mostly within the groups of children who come from India or from the
Terai Plain. A lot of them are completely le to their own devices. That is why,
once they have finished working, they meet again with their clan, their gang or
other pickers. And yet, the Interna onal Labor Oce considers rubbish picking
to be one of the worst forms of child labor.
We also meet a lot of khalasis, children who are hanging on to the back of
public transport, collec ng money from the passengers.
Most of them share the same big dream: one day, they want to get their drivers
license, become the driver and have their own vehicle. Only a few of them will
manage to reach that goal and a lot will go on with the same khalasi life made
up of pollu on, glue and contempt. Hanging on to the back of vehicles stuck in
trac jams and fumes all day long, they o en suer from serious pulmonary
diseases and respiratory infec ons. Fortunately, the driver usually treats them
well and some mes even temporarily houses them.
Besides these two (very permeable) categories, the children have various jobs:
the , drug and newspaper sales, begging, cleaning, etc.
And yet, Nepal is a signatory to most of the interna onal rules forbidding child
labor that are supposed to secure their protec on and their rights. Of course, in
the Nepali society, child labor isnt tradi onally abnormal. The children are quickly
called upon the family services, should the family be subjected to economic
dicul es and/or they have lands to exploit. Earning a few rupees some mes
allows the child to provide for all his family. If, in theory, child labor remains
harmful to him, it is nevertheless understandable and currently inevitable.

72
Main work type since in the street
More than half of the children reported that their main work since being on the
street was as rag pickers. 21% worked as beggars whilst 8% men oned being
street vendors. Similarly, about 4% of the children worked as Khalasis (helper or
conductor of a bus/tempo) while 4% did not have any job.
Main work type since on the street

60
53
50
40
30
% age
21
20
11
10 8
4 4
0
Rag Beggar Khalasi Street Others No job
picker vendor
Current work type

The primary work type of most of the children was as rag picker and beggar. More
than half of the children (53%) reported that their main work was as a rag picker
at the me of the survey. Similarly, about one in five children (19%) reported that
they are beggars and 7% children stated that they are currently street vendors.
73
Main current work
60
53
50
40
30
% age
19
20
12
10 7 5
4
0
Rag Beggar Khalasi Street Others No job
picker vendor
Frequency of working at Night

Working at night can place children at greater risk of abuse and exploita on,
while limi ng the access of organiza ons which predominantly use oce hours
to work with these children. A high majority of the children regularly (always,
o en or some mes) work at night (69%) placing them at greater risk.
On the other hand, more than a quarter (27%) reported that they never worked
at night. Comparing current work to working at night, it is worth no ng that 50%
of the Khalasis, 38% of the beggars and 33% of the street vendors never work at
night. By comparison, only 14% of rag pickers never work at night.

74
Frequency of work at night
Never
Some mes 27%
50%
No response
4%
Always
O en 12%
7%
Treatment by employers and the public

Children were asked about how they were treated by their employers and by the
public while working. A substan ally high propor on of the children reported
being badly or very badly treated (43%) while only 16% of the children reported
that they were treated well by the public. Fewer than two in five children (39%)
men oned being treated neither good nor bad by the public.
More than one in four children (27%) reported being treated badly or very badly
whereas 18% of the children reported being treated good or very good by the
employer while working. More than half of the children (54%) reported that
their employer treated them OK.
75
Treatment by public
Well
16%
Ok No response
39% 2%
Very badly
14%
Badly
29%
Treatment by employer
Well
17%
No response
Ok 2%
54%
Very badly
2%
Badly
25%

76
Daily Earnings
The average daily earnings of the respondents range from less than 50 rupees
(NRs) per day to over 500 rupees per day. However, the majority of the children
earned 200-500 rupees (56%) followed by 50-200 rupees (27%) per day. It is also
notable that about one out of ten children (9%) earned more than 500 rupees
per day.
As a comparison, the daily wage for an adult industrial worker is 231 rupees
(USD2.61) per day (2011 figures).
Over 80% of the children working as conductors and street vendors receive
between 200 and 500 rupees per day. By contrast, only 67% of rag pickers receive
this amount and a significant number (27%) receive less than 200 rupees per day.
Earnings as a beggar can be more of a lo ery. Whilst 61% of street children who
beg earn less than 200 rupees, 11% earn more than 500 rupees per day. With
such fluctua ons, and the possibili es of high wages, one can see why a street
child may be interested in this occupa on.
Average daily earnings

60 56
50
40
30 27
% age
20
10 8 9
1
0
Less than Nrs. 50 Nrs. 200 Nrs. more No
Nrs. 50 to 200 to 500 than 500 response
77
Money sent to family
About one third of the children (35%) reported that they used to send money
to their family. The other 60% did not send money to their family while about
6% of the children did not respond on this issue.
Money sent to family %

Yes 34.8
Not 59.6
No response 5.6
Total 100.0
Savings
About two in five children (38%) save money while 55% of the children were
not able to save any money.
Saving
Yes
38% No
55%
No
response
7%

78
Santosh (16 years):

It is been 10 years since I left home. All day long, Im on the street. When I
was small, I survived through begging. As I grew older, I was threatened and
battered. People dont easily give money to beggars so I began to pretend
I was a disabled boy while begging, so that it was easy for me to survive.
To survive in this society, you need to cheat. I still act as if I was a disabled
boy while begging on the bus route of Pokhara and Narayangardh. When
Im begging, I say such things as Please give me some food, Im hungry, I
havent eaten anything in 2 days. People easily trust me and so they readily
give me money.
Rabin:
I carry wood and rice grass (straw) inside the Pashupati temple to fire the
dead bodies. I also do it at night and to help my elder brothers who are
involved in the cremation of the dead bodies in there. I earn 300 to 400
rupees a day. I cant save any money because I spend it on dendrite (glue),
cigarettes and marijuana. Sometimes I also spend it on funny activities such
as going to the cinema.
There are many youths older than me who live in Pashupati. They batter us
without any reason and steal the money that we earned. Sometimes I beg
with the families of the deceased persons at night.
Manoj Thapa:
I come from India. I used to work in a craft factory with my mother-in-law
in Bhaktapur. I earned 500 to 1000 rupees a month. One day I accidentally
voided in my mother-in-laws room. I was afraid that she would batter me,
so I ran away from her room and came to Tilganga Kawar.
Now, Im picking plastic in the Tilganga area day and night. Sometimes, I
work at the airport as a luggage carrier for the visitors. I can speak English
so Im being polite while begging. But I cannot beg on the street. I earn 150
to 200 rupees a day. Im not saving any money because I spend it on meals,
dendrite, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. Sometimes Im afraid because
many friends died of overdose in the Tilganga area.
First-hand accounts
79
Ram (13years):
Everyone in my family is working on the street. Ive no idea on when I started
living on the street because I was very young when we ended up here. Now,
Im working in the Pashupati area, which is risky. Im working in the funeral
place: I help with the cremation of the dead bodies. I earn 100 to 800 rupees
a day. I have to send money to my family and I also have to save some of my
earnings for the festival celebrations.
Suraj Nepali:
I am 14 years old and I live in Pashupati. Im an orphan. Ive been living on the
street for 5 years. Ive tried many different jobs on the street. Sometimes, I
work as a conductor. I usually work at night. There are many devotees coming
in Pashupati in the morning and so we can earn money by begging, but the
police batter us. I earn 300 rupees a day, and I manage to save some of it,
but, since Im an orphan, Ive got nobody to send it to and it makes me sad.
Ahish:
Im 14 now. To earn money, Im picking plastic and cardboard. Every day,
Im going to sleep around 2-3 in the morning. People approach me in a bad
way. I never send money to my family because I spend everything on food. I
earn 100 to 150 rupees a day. I have many friends on the street; we compete
with one another while searching for goods.
Bikash:
Ive been working on the street since 2008. At first, I worked as a dishwasher.
Now, I work as a conductor. I have to work until midnight. In my family, there
is only my sister and me. She is working in a hotel, so I dont have to give
her money. Our mother died of cancer and our father died in an accident.
Since I lost both my parents, I dont see the use of saving money.
Som:
Im begging in Lagankhel. I steal the others stuff so they treat me badly.
They usually abuse me. I earn 200 to 400 rupees a day, but I cant save any
money. I also like to beg at night, but no ones there because it is dark.
Akash T:
Im 12. Im begging at the cinema hall from 8 am till the evening. Oh, and
dont ask me what I do at night. I never send any money to my parents, Im

80
begging for one mouth only. I earn 200 to 300 a day. I could go to a more
secure place where no one can touch my money, but I would earn less.
Sonam Khadka:
I le my house because of domes c violence. At first I stayed in Kalanki. I work
as a khalasi and water seller. I have to earn money to eat. Some mes, my boss
doesnt pay me. There are lots of risks with the khalasi job: you can fall down, your
hand can be wedged against the door, etc. I work ll the evening. My boss treats
me well. Once, a friend of mine was walking while on a dendrite trip and got hit
by a bus coming from behind. But fortunately nothing serious happened to him.
Ramesh:
Im from Dhankuta. At first, I stayed in Putalisadak but now I stay in the Pashupa
area. I collect residual firewood from the funeral pyres and sell it. I have a family
but I dont know where they are now. Before she died, my mother took me with
her to my stepfathers house when my parents got divorced. Two years ago, my
father came to Pashupa , searching for me. I met him. At that moment, he tried to
convince me to go to a Gulf country to look for a job. Even if some friends of mine
died of a drug overdose, I am very addicted to drugs, so I need money to buy it.
First-hand accounts
81
Himmat Maskey
Na onal Director-CPCS (Nepal)
In my opinion, street life is a last op on of surviving and it is dicult for everybody

to adjust on the street. Once they are used to the street life it is very dicult to
leave the street.
The street has its own system, rules and regula ons, code language etc. At the
beginning, when they are on the street, the children have to modify their own
lives and learn to live in this exis ng environment. This is not easy and the rules
and system are changing all the me. It depends on the loca on, the gang and
the situa on.
When the child first arrives on the street, he gets food easily and the street
group also provides him food at first for free. This makes him more and more
mo vated and convinces him that the street is an easy way of life. And he enjoys
the freedom. The longer he spends on the street the more he is pushed to adopt
the system, rules and regula ons. It depends upon the loca on and the group
on how to earn money to survive.
The dierent types of street work are:
1. Begging
2. Rag picking (collec ng plas c)
3. Khalasi (money collector on public transport)
4. Dish washer (work in a small hotel or local restaurant)
5. Street vendor (selling water on bus stops)
6. Involvement in criminal ac vi es (pick pocke ng, robbing,
stealing)
Begging: When the children are s ll small they beg on the street, trac lights
areas, tourist areas, temples and mass density loca ons (bazaars, markets).
Because they are s ll small, people give them money and provide them food.
They earn daily from Rs. 50 up to 4000, 5000 and get expensive, quality packaged
food or wasted food from good restaurants.

82
Rag picking: Some children collect recyclable materials on the street and sell it.
They collect materials from garbage that they find outside on the street. They
have to do this work late at night and before early morning. This is high risk
work. Some mes they have accidents (bomb blast from chemical cans, chemical
infec ons, wounds, cuts, dog bites, etc.). They earn Rs 200 to 500 for two hours
work. Some mes, they find valuable things too, but it also transpires that they are
unnecessarily punished because of what they have found on the street. People
accuse them of stealing it.
Khalashi/Dish washer: These jobs have many similari es. They both get a monthly
salary between NRs. 500 to 1500. In this work, they get morning and evening
meals, but the work condi ons are not safe. They have to work very hard and
most of the me they are too young for this hard labor. Most of the me they
dont get a (rented) place for sleeping as the public doesnt believe or trust them,
so they dont stay there long. Khalashi work is more risky and a dicult job. They
have to hang outside of the vehicle to announce to the public where the bus is
going. And they are humiliated by the public too. They are more exploited by
the public and the bus owner in this field of work.
Street Vendor: This is another form of work for the street children. It is very
dicult for these children to find ini al funds to start a new business. The same
diculty of funding arises when they want to expand their exis ng business.
They earn NRs 100 to 4500 a day and they work in groups.
Involvement in criminal ac vi es: In the street the children are in not stable
environments. They are always moving because of dierent reasons and they
easily change their work too. Of course there is freedom but they are against
society and society always looks at them in a very nega ve way. If there is a
nega ve incident, they are the first ones accused by the public, society, police,
authori es etc. Because of this, they always have a nega ve feeling against society.
In the street when they are growing up they are star ng to do work on the street
or they find alterna ve work. Some children are treasured leaders and some are
doing criminal work due to drug habits. In Nepal, there are less girls than boys
on the street but now the number is increasing on the street. In the street, the
girls are not normally doing the jobs men oned above. They get married with
youth of the street and live as life partners. Unfortunately the rela onship is
National perspective by Himmat Maskey
83
never long las ng and separa on or divorce happen easily and they get married
to another street youth. It is a moving circle.
Some street girls are begging on the street and some pros tute. Some girls rent
a room in a lodge and pick up clients from the street. This work is encouraged
by the life partner and other street guys too.
Money earned on the street is first spent on entertainment. They go to films,

the video parlor, games etc. Then they spend money on drugs most of the
children use glue first; then marijuana, injec ons and other drugs too. Money
is also spent on instruc on or training of their leader. Some mes other groups
or gangs rob them.
When they get packaged food, they directly resell it to the supermarket or contact
points. They already manage their contact centers for the reselling. Collec ng
wasted food is always shared with each other and if it is not sweet they directly
throw it in the garbage.
Himmat Maskey

84
By Edho Mukendy Kafunda
Na onal Coordinator-CATSR (Congo)
Outline of the daily activities of children from broken

homes (Street Children) in the Democratic Republic
of Congo
I. BACKGROUND
With the endemic economic crisis in which the DR Congo has been embroiled
for decades of poor governance, the family situa on in the country has go en
worse and worse over the years with, as a first consequence, the inability of first
the parents and then the state to meet the vital needs of the children. Some of
the la er, in view of the social and public ins tu ons decline, decided to go and
live outside the paternal roof, with a genuine preference for public places such
as the street in urban centers. Hence the group iden ty called street children
they have been labelled as.
The situa on of the children, already precarious and unfortunate in DR Congo,

deteriorated even more with the various armed conflicts currently happening
all over the East of the country, especially in the Kivu and Ituri areas. There
the children have been enlisted, willingly or not, as soldiers in several rebel
movements and armed groups where they are used as guides, porters and
economic or sexual slaves by the warlords. With the gradual return to peace,
we had to establish a legal framework for the protec on and support of child
rights. The law on child protec on in DR Congo, passed by the Parliament and
promulgated in January 2009 by the President of the Republic, cons tutes an
advanced stage in the struggle against the arbitrary characteris cs of life for the
children in our country.
II. CHILD LABOR IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONGOLESE LEGISLATION

The law 09/001 of the 10th of January 2009 on child protec on in Congo is a legal
retort to the arbitrariness and the legal loophole which hardly guaranteed child
rights in our country. Vulnerable through their dependence to their environment
and through their lack of physical, intellectual and emo onal maturity, a lot of
International perspective by Edho Mukendy Kafunda
85
children were mistreated, discriminated against, accused of sorcery, infected or
aected by HIV/AIDS or were the object of tracking. Deprived of their right
to inheritance, to healthcare and to educa on, some of them were the vic ms
of social exclusion and economic or sexual exploitation. By acceding to the
Conven on Nr. 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Admission for Employment
and to the Conven on Nr. 182 concerning the Elimina on of the Worst Forms
of Child Labor, DR Congo embarked on the path of making a warhorse out of
child protec on.
The ques on about child labor is thus se led under Title III of the law 09/001
of 10 January 2009 on child protec on, which deals with the social protec on
of the child. Under chapter 1, sec on 2 (ar cles 50 to 56), the worst forms of
child labor are forbidden, especially all forms of slavery, forced or compulsory
recruitment, pros tu on, illegal ac vi es, nuisance ac vi es, etc.
III. APPRAISAL OF THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK DONE BY CHILDREN

FROM BROKEN HOMES IN DR CONGO
Despite the publica on of the law on child protec on in DR Congo in 2009, the
children in general and, more par cularly, the street children are s ll forced
to do various survival jobs and ac vi es, most of which get on the nerves of the
representa ves of the legal provisions in force.
As for the whole Congolese popula on which has to do resourceful ac vi es

to survive in a country where jobs have been scarce for several decades, the
children from broken homes, either called phaseurs, shegus or balados,
arent indeed twiddling their thumbs.
On the one hand, a lot of them have a reputa on for pinching the others
money and rag-bag in very crowded areas and in trading centers (shops, bars,
markets); others, on the other hand, work on the black market.
A survey conducted by the Congolese media revealed that in Kinshasa, for

example, the street children regularly go to some areas where ac vi es of the
informal economy are taking place. On the various beaches and in the ports of
Kinshasa, as well as in Bas-Congo, street children are employed as day laborers
to do several jobs such as loaders and unloaders of parcels, goods and supplies
or other manufactured products from abroad or from the rural provinces. In
return, they are given modest sums or food ra ons.

86
At the bus stops and on the pla orms or docks (railways, private and public ports,
airfields), the children become porters and carry bags (cement, corn, manioc,
beans, salt, rice) to the places of loading or of residence. And, in Kinkole for
example which is the administra ve center of the Kinshasa district Nsele the
street children help the women who buy fish and other fishing products to cut,
cook and sell them in outdoor restaurants, called Malewa in Kinshasa. They use
the occasion to have something to eat in return. It is the same for all the other
Malewa which proliferate in the pirate and ocial markets across the country.
Taking the opportunity of the craze for commercial and travelling ac vi es, the
children from broken homes retail plas c bags to the passers-by, customers and
travelers or ask for charity to the motorists, supposed to easily give money.
The roguest of them lure the ina en ve passers-by to steal their mobile phones.
They then sell the phones cheaply or in exchange for meals. And, some mes,
they carry their the s out with the help of the law enforcement agents.
Un l now, the law on child protec on has had no eect on all these various and
daily survival ac vi es done by the children.
Edho Mukendy Kafunda
International perspective by Edho Mukendy Kafunda
87
Key findings
O The freedoms of rag picking make it the job of choice for the majority of
the street children.
O A high majority of the children regularly worked at night placing them at

greater risk to abuse and exploita on. In par cular, 86% of the rag pickers
con nue to work around the clock. 62% of the beggars work at night.
O Earnings as a beggar can be a lo ery with 61% earning less than 200 rupees,
but 11% earn more than 500 rupees per day.
O Saving money and sending it home has been dicult for children in a street
situa on.
O Regardless of any State laws or Interna onal conven ons, child labor is
rising throughout Nepal. More than anything, children are working outside
the protec on of Employment and Exploita on laws. This makes them
extremely vulnerable. Contrary to this, the work carried out by children
in a street situation are done out of and for daily survival strategies.
Paradoxically, law enforcement agents are frustrated with the children and
punish them for their ac ons, rather than protec ng them from exploita on
or penalizing the ini al lawbreakers.

88
CHAPTER THREE
THE USE OF DRUGS
CPCS
89
ARTICLE 33 (CRC) : Children must be protected
from the illicit use of drugs and prevent the use
of children in (their) produc on and tracking.
Street children are sning glue, taking tablets, drinking alcohol,

smoking cigare es and some mes even injec ng drugs. Li le is
done to prevent them from doing it.
Chapter 3: The Use of Drugs
90
Introduction
The use of psychoac ve substances is a widely prac ced and normalized ac vity
among adolescents in this society, and more par cularly among street children.
Many of these children and youth are involved in the harmful use (abuse) of
drugs i.e. use which results in social, psychological or physical problems.
Those eects can appear immediately and/or on the long run. The key for the
interven ons for preven on to succeed is to understand why street children
commonly abuse drugs in spite of the risks involved.
Drugs are o en used to replace something missing in the childrens lives or

to solve problems, albeit temporarily. It is also important to understand the
meaning of the use and abuse of the different types of substances and the
implica ons it can have on the eciency of the interven ons.
As well as experiencing the developmental changes in adolescence, street children

are also nego a ng iden ty from their marginalized posi on in society. The
role played by drugs in the childrens evolving iden es and social interac ons
is significant.
They o en take drugs to make up for an emp ness, a lacking which rose in the
form of suering. These drugs allow the children to feel be er; they relieve them
from their everyday life, which hammers home its heavy truths and forces them
to put up with the present.
Of course, when mentioning this kind of consumption, one cannot keep

silent about all the disastrous eects these drugs have on the children, both
psychologically and in terms of physical and mental skills. The first of these eects
is the progressive dependence of the consumer. This varies depending upon the
type of drug taken. The eects can appear immediately or over me.
The dierent types of drugs taken vary hugely. Most common are glue, alcohol
and marijuana (mainly in the form of Hashish). There is also a social dimension to
consider when we look into this phenomenon. When they end up on the street,
the children feel obliged to take drugs.
Introduction
91
Substance use
Mul ple substance use is common among street children. These children use
many kinds of substances. For instance, an overwhelming majority of the children
(83%) smoked cigare es followed by sning glue (76%) regularly. Almost half
of the children reported that they consumed alcohol (45%) and smoked ganja
regularly. More than two in five children (43%) reported that they also consume
other kinds of drugs. Addi onally, 4% of the children stated that they injected
drugs regularly. It is notable that about a third of the children (31%) reported
that they were forced to take drugs.
Substance use
Take any kind of drugs 43
Ever forced to take drugs 31
Inject drugs regularly 4
Sni glue regularly 76
Drink alcohol regularly 45
Smoke ganja regularly 41
Smoke cigare es regularly 83
0 20 40 60 80 100
% age

92
accounts
Feeling rejected by society, street children some mes shut themselves away
in a parallel world with their own habits, including the use of hallucinogenic or
calming substances.
One should try to understand the reasons why a child starts to take any kind
of drug. There is a whole social dimension to consider when we look into this
phenomenon. When they end up on the street, the children feel obliged to take
drugs. There is something of a social obliga on. They o en have to go through
such prac ces to assert themselves.
Let us trace the typical route of a child who, for various reasons, has to work
on the street:
Very quickly, he will be taken in by other children who will invite him to share their
meagre pi ance with them. Then, they will explain to him how they survive on
the street and how, when this life becomes too dicult to put up with, they, for
example, drop some glue in a li le bag to sni its fragrance. Even the newcomers,
who may be a li le hesitant in the beginning, will not be able to categorically
93
refuse. Refuse the only people who showed a bit of interest in them, took them
in, gave them a place around the fire, shared what li le food they had with
them, and who are now passing around a li le bag with glue? They take a deep
breath inside the bag and, almost immediately, they feel happier, more relaxed.
The newcomers will then tell themselves: Why not me? Lets just give it a try.
And, a er a few pus, they will quickly feel lighter, somewhat as if they had been
drinking alcohol. They will then forget hunger, cold and this dreadful feeling of
failure which some mes gnaw at them.
Over me, and as they grow older, they will feel more and more on the margins
of society, badly accepted and the substances they took in the beginning wont
be enough anymore to make them forget reality. They will then need to take
other drugs.
It will o en be medicines, such as amphetamines or pain killers for example, in

tablets or by injec ons. Given that these substances are expensive, they will thus
need more money. Their li le ac vi es, be they illegal or not, shall not be enough
anymore and they then risk to be forced into the , crime and violence. They will
be arrested and, in some countries, risk to get a bea ng or even to be tortured,
which will only increase the resentment and hatred they have towards society.
They will become completely unsociable and their behavior will make them take
more and more risks. From this moment on, their future is already mapped out:
they either end up in jail very young or die and o en of an overdose.
It is a factor that cannot be ignored when we try to understand the street childs
world.
On the street, the children freely cul vate their own way of life made out of
wandering, joy and pain. Nothing can stop them from adop ng a harmful behavior.
They dont care about the others life and happiness. On the street, the children
can smoke whatever, wherever and whenever they want.
That being said, let us always bear in mind the nearness between the child and
the drug scene; which is interlocked with all ma ers concerning crime, the Mafia,
violence, abuse, money, etc.

94
Kanchha:
I am Kanchha and I am 11 years old. I am from Kavre. Ive been on the street in
the Chabahil area for 1 or 2 years. I love being on the street. Here, Ive got many
friends and I enjoy playing with them. We get stoned with dendrite, which makes
us see what we want to see. Most o en, were flying in the sky, it is so much
fun. Some mes I beg and some mes I pick garbage and plas c. People hate us
begging and street youth steal our money. I dont want to go back home because
my parents always scolded and ba ered me.
Maikal (14 years):

3 years ago, I ran away from home and came to Kathmandu. I was in 3rd grade
at that me. Un l now, I havent gone back home yet. It is interes ng to stay in
groups on the street. The big boys love us. They help us when we are sick. We
take dendrite, smoke cigare e and drink alcohol in group. We arent under any
control or pressure when we are on the street. Here, we are free to do whatever
we want. We can survive by begging, working or loo ng and stealing. Gang fights
are normal on the street. There are many gangs in many places.
Devi:
Im 17 years old and I come form Makawanpur. My father got married to another
woman and le my mother. I know a bit about drugs. I also take some drugs such
as Vat, Foxciban and dendrite, but usually I drink alcohol and smoke ganja. Me
and my friends, we take Foxciban mixed with Naitroson.
My friends take tablets and other drugs. If we take the tab with mango juice,
it gives us a heavy trip. Foxciban costs 50 rupees, but Vat costs 250 rupees. We
make money through pickpocke ng.
Bikram Nepali:
Im 16 years old. Ive been living on the street for six years. I come from Sunsari
Dharan. At first, I stayed alone in the Kopan area. Now, my mother and my
younger brother are also staying here. My mother works as a dishwasher. Then
we started to stay on the street.
On the street, I take drugs. Most of the me, I smoke ganja and cigare es and I
drink alcohol. I heard a lot about other drugs, but I dont like to take them. Once,
95
I ate Dhaturo. It made me totally dull for 3-4 days. Most of my friends take it,
but they never force me to.
Bishwo:
Ive been living on the street for 8 years now. Im 17 and I stay in the Pashupati
area. I dont know a lot about drugs, but I know about Pani, which I took
three times and never tried again after. Now, Im not interested in taking
those kinds of drugs. I felt really good and relaxed when I took drugs, but I
dont like to work after taking it. Sometimes, when I feel like taking drugs,
my senior fellow convinces me not to do so. I earn money for drugs by
collecting firewood at the funeral place. I dont like to have sex, I never feel
any emotion.
Sonam:
I come from Dolakha. I have a father, a mother and a younger brother. I
left home because of family violence. Ive been living on the street for 5-6
years now. At first, I stayed in Kalanki and I worked as a khalasi and a water
seller, but now Im working as a khalasi only. We have to work to buy food.
Sometimes, my boss doesnt pay me. There are lots of risks with the khalasi
job: you can fall down, your hand can be wedged against the door, etc. Ive
never been battered by my boss. I have to work late, till 10 pm.
Im used to take dendrite and I smoke cigarettes. I have to take some drugs
to get through the whole day and forget the way people treat me. Ill never
forget one event: a friend of mine was walking while on a dendrite trip
and got hit by a bus coming from behind. But fortunately nothing serious
happened to him.
Im saving some money from my job as a khalasi. I visit home regularly. I

send 2,000 to 3,000 rupees a month to my family. Daily, I can save 200 to
300 rupees and the 50 rupees my boss gives me to buy food is enough for
me. Im also doing seasonal jobs such as corn or water seller, among others.
My father is happy that I have this job. When Im working on a bus, I sleep
in that same bus. When Im doing other works, I have to sleep on the side of
the road. But when we spend the night on the street, the police batter us.
Once, I was sleeping on the street and a policeman came with a van, forced
me into it without any reason, and battered me badly. It was hard for me.
They kept me in custody for 2 days and then they let me go.

96
Ramesh:
Ive been on the street for 9-10 years. Im 19 years old now and my name is
Ramesh. In the past, I stayed in Putalisadak, but now I stay in the Pashupa
area. I collect the used and remaining funeral firewood and sell it. That is how I
make some money. Nobody ever stops me from doing it because people throw
all the remaining wood into the Bagma River where I collect it. I come from
Dhankuta. My whole family migrated from the village. I have an older brother
and an older sister, as well as a younger brother and a younger sister. My older
brother works as a driver. I just heard that my older sister is married. I dont know
where my younger sister is, I have no idea. There are things about the divorce
of my parents that I cant remember: it happened many years ago. My mother
took me with her to my stepfathers house before she died. Two years ago, my
father came to Pashupati, searching for me. I met him. At that moment, he
tried to convince me to go to a Gulf country to look for a job. After that
conversation, my father never came back to Pashupati to meet or see me
again. Maybe he went to a foreign country.
Im used to taking drugs. At first, most of my friends gave it to me for free,

but now I have to buy the drugs by myself. Vat, Focxo, Narfim, Dyjipam
Opidal, Brown Sugar, Charesh, Naitroson, White, Cronaj and others. I take
them all. Most of the time, I take Vat. If I dont take it, I often faint. All these
different drugs give various kinds of trips. We usually take 1cc Narfim a day.
We use Sugar in two ways: we either sniff it or heat it in the lid of a bottle
before injecting it.
I started taking drugs with my friends. At first, it gave me a lot of pleasure.

Heres how it started: a street youth forced me to smoke a cigarette with
brown sugar. I was really scared, but there was no escaping it, so I smoked
and coughed a lot. Then I started taking drugs continuously. Some friends
of mine died of an overdose in front of my eyes.
We are a group made up of 6-7 friends. We all buy our drugs in Tilganga or
Kalopul. We know all the dealers. As I already said, they dont offer credit, so
we pay the price they set. We take the drugs to a very remote place where no
one can see or disturb us. We inject ourselves in group: the same injection
for two or three people. After having taken drugs, I dont like to have sex.
97
By Rajendra Thapa
Youth Vision (Nepal)
Street children and drug abuse in Nepal

Throughout the walk around Kathmandu and major ci es of Nepal we meet
and see hundreds of street children abusing various types of drugs orally and
intravenously, as well as sning dendrite, smoking cigare es, marijuana and
drinking alcohol. These children have also spent their free me watching movies,
playing cards, marbles, video games and figh ng each other.
Likely or unlikely the majority of the street children were taking drugs because
of the peer pressure from their own in mate friends that are either boys or
girls. Each street childs drug using experience is dierent though many start
from a cigare e then marijuana, alcohol, tablets, to glue sning and injec ng
drugs. By this naive use of drugs, they are facing dierent problems like HIV/AIDS,
hepa s B and/or C and STI etc. This means that most of the street children were
par cularly exposed and extremely vulnerable to drugs and these drugs led to
HIV/AIDS and other diseases. As a ma er of fact, very few street children were
visi ng the VCT clinic to undergo HIV and STI diagnosis as well as its associated
treatments. We need to extend our preven on ac vi es toward street children,
to encourage and refer them to such exis ng preven on and care ac vi es to
save their poten al lives.
The children shi to the street a er the age of eight. Some are living a long me
in the street because they do not have any family members and a home. Other
childrens transi on process may be in and out of the family home and in the
street. That means the adjustment to the street will be all the easier because
they have already worked on the street and possibly made friends there.
Children leave home to live in the street because they have no other alterna ve,
given the problems at home. They cannot be taken in by a member of the extended
family, admi ance to a public ins tu on is unlikely, and for foster children a return
to their original community is impossible. Many boys and especially girls cannot

98
be reintegrated into their community because they were discriminated by the
community and their family. Most of the street children spent their childhood
to teenage years in avenues, under bridges, warehouse underground passages,
footpaths, open ground and the Bus Park.
Drug risk factors for street children:

Personal factors
Psychological vulnerability and distress, emo onal depriva on, low self-esteem
and li le value a ached to ones person or life is the essen al personal factors
of risk aec ng the drug-using street child. By the cause of isola on and non-
suppor ve a tude from others, they are isolated and as a result, they dont
have proper schooling and educa on. As well as this, the street children are not
making any plans for the future and keep li le hope of any posi ve development
in their further life.
Regarding personal factors, most of the street children are suering from day-to-
day survival-related stress and anxiety and lack of informa on on drugs and the
risks of using them, so that they are vulnerable to HIV and other harmful diseases.
Family factors
The rights of the children need more a en on. This includes the need to receive
a be er educa on and making func onal rela onships with their family. All too
common are families that have broken rela onships and going through awful
mes. This leads to a lack of family tutelage and support, proper supervision and
apprecia on by family members. For children from the lower classes, disbelief
forms toward their family members as well as feeling psychologically bankrupt.
They begin to mimic the aects felt by the street children and start using drugs.
Social factors
Social exclusion and s gma za on are major factors for taking drugs. En re
groups of street children, fully reac ve to peer-group pressure, compel each
other to doing any ac vity during the day and/or during the night.
Environmental factors
No proper parental figures or mentors have been surrounding the street children
in their lives. As such, the availability and accessibility to drugs, circula on and
National perspective by Rajendra Thapa
99
use between them has been freely conducted. The events of sharing needles
and unrestricted sexual abuse by peer groups are of concern.
Reasons why children take drugs:
O To resist and relieve the pain, cold and hunger.

O To reduce stress, anxiety and fear.
O To increase physical strength, courage and stamina.
O To escape from their exis ng problems.
O To adopt peer-group prac ces.
O To have fun and relax with friends.
O To experiment with new sensa ons.
O Exploita on from senior to junior street children for transference
and dependence of drugs.
The responsibili es of exis ng child welfare organiza ons, intellectuals and

related stakeholders have been towards assis ng street children. These include
providing innovative prevention activities, such as: offering information,
educa onal communica ons, mee ngs, discussions and trainings. Referral to
relevant agencies, including drug treatment and rehabilita on centers, has also
followed with the view to reduce a childs risk, posi vely improve the impact
of drug use and safety from the hazardous diseases like HIV, STI, and Hepa s.
Referrals for such children are also to provide shelter for them. This is done to
preserve be er safety and hygiene, enhance the services for food and nutri onal
support and to focus on primary health care services and educa on to the children.
There are numerous organiza ons that are working for the children such as
orphanages; however, there is not even a single organiza on which is working
with drug-affected children. In order to reintegrate street children into the
mainstream, we have to address their drug using behavior otherwise it will be
a wasted investment.
Rajendra Thapa

100
By Sarah De Meyer
Drug Department Coordinator, Stedelijk Overleg
Drugs Antwerpen (SODA) Belgium
Substance misuse amongst homeless youngsters in

Antwerp (Belgium)
The city of Antwerp each year has a qualita ve research report done by a university
on the use of alcohol and drugs in Antwerp, each me with a focus on a dierent
target group. In 2011 the focus was drug and alcohol use by youngsters in
Antwerp. An important part of the research dealt with homeless youngsters.
The situa on of homeless youngsters comes together with a lot of complex

problems. Using drugs is one of them. It is impossible to put a number on the
homeless youngsters in Antwerp, since they are quite vola le. In this research
we mainly talk about the target group of young people aged between 18 and
25. From 18 onwards, youngsters are no longer obliged to go to school, they are
no longer supervised by Youth Services and the parents authority diminishes.
Characteris cs
Homeless youngsters mainly use the classical products: alcohol, tobacco,
marijuana, cocaine, and heroin Marijuana and alcohol are usually not their main
products, but are used alongside the others. They o en started at an early age:
12 or 13. One could divide the homeless drug using youngsters in three groups.
The first is mainly made up of boys who are in touch with an older, marginalized
group of drug users. These young people already start at an early age by injec ng
heroin or snor ng or freebasing cocaine. They are very popular among the older
users since they usually s ll have a stable income. In the second group, they
mainly use amphetamines: speed, ecstasy and GHB and they have a background
in Special Youth Care. The third group consists of young people with a middle class
background who s ll have a social network. Their drug problems are bigger than
one would have ini ally expected. Apart from these three categories, there are
also two other specifically vulnerable groups: young people with limited abili es
and young people without residence papers.
International perspective by Sarah De Meyer
101
Using drugs has a huge impact not only on the health, but also on the social life of
homeless youngsters. They miss the start of their adult life: they leave school early,
dont find a job, have financial debts, lose contact with their family, and so on. A
lot of these people come from a mul -problema c, socio-family context where at
least one of the parents is absent. Using drugs is a problem that is o en passed
down over several genera ons. Some of these youngsters come from a rela vely
good family, but with one or more members having a psychiatric disorder.
Housing
Some field workers emphasize the importance of harm reduc on for those young
people who are not ready to change things (yet). Almost all social workers agree on
the crucial influence of a stable living situa on on the use of addic ve substances
by youngsters. When they turn to a social service, it is o en their prac cal problems
(housing, finances, unemployment) which are their first concern, and not their
addic on. It is important to meet those needs first, to take them by the hand and lead
them through all the necessary procedures and wai ng lists. When those problems
are addressed, there will be an opening to work on the substance dependency.
According to social workers in Antwerp, it is important for the youngster to have
an individual housing spot at his disposal. Living in a shared space, they might be
nega vely influenced by other drug users. Moreover, in homeless shelters, having
an addic on is o en a criterion of exclusion. Some social workers advocate a night
shelter, especially for young people, where they are not in contact with the bad
influence of older drug users and where they can consult a social worker.
Work
Apart from having a stable housing situa on, having a useful occupa on is another
important factor. Being on the street, they live from social welfare and / or turn to
dealing, small criminal ac vi es and even pros tu on. A young person needs to
have some prospects in his life; otherwise he wont have any mo va on to lessen
his drug addic on. Employment projects that are easily accessible, oering them
the chance to slowly start anew again, are indispensable. They need an intense
guidance focused on their quali es and weaknesses.
Health
The influence of the use of addictive substances on the physical health of
youngsters is usually rela vely limited. There is, however, a big dierence between
those who s ll live at home or have a safe and clean place where they can use

102
drugs and those living on the street. Youngsters who live on the street have more
health problems. Some young people, mainly speed users, have already dental
problems at the age of 21.
Most of these young people have emo onal problems. There is also a group
with psychiatric problems, some mes caused by the use of drugs, o en just
coexis ng with the drug use.
Need for help

A lot of the homeless youngsters have already been in contact with the social
work services several mes; psychiatry, Special Youth Care and so on. They o en
have bad memories about these contacts, they need more posi ve experiences.
It is not easy to help them, they o en dont want to stop using drugs and they
are hard to reach. Services have to be easily accessible, flexible and suitable for
their needs. Young people will only ask for help when their problems have already
escalated. They o en dont consider their drug use as the main problem. Some
methods that might work are: case management, strengthening of the social
network, housing first, outreach, brief mo va onal interven on models and
free medical consulta ons.
Sarah De Meyer
International perspective by Sarah De Meyer
103
By Tessa Windelinckx
Coordinator of Needle Exchange, Belgium
Situation of young IDUs in Flanders (Belgium), from

Needle exchanges point of view
In Needle exchange (NSP) Flanders, we are aware that there are very young
Injec ng Drug Users (IDUs), but we have no contact with this group.
We conduct an annual survey which consists of a ques onnaire which the IDUs
who par cipate in NSP Flanders are asked to answer. In 2011 we ques oned 257
IDUs. Considering the results of this ques onnaire, we are able to say that IDUs
start injec ng at a very early age.
Almost 10% of them were 15 or younger when they had their first injec on with
an illegal substance.
When further analyzing the results, we can see that young IDUs (in their twen es)
started at an earlier age than the older IDUs that we reach.
The reached participants also state that they know other IDUs who do not
par cipate in Needle exchange. 10% of them are under 18.
As a conclusion, we can state that there are young IDUs (probably aged between
15 and 25) who are not reached by drug services, have no contact with preven on,
harm reduc on and care. We also know that the first years of injec ng is a
vulnerable period, and almost 50% of the IDUs get a hep C infec on in the first
two years of injec ng.
Most of the me, the young drug users are oered an abs nence-based approach
to stop using drugs. This is not always working with this type of drug users: they
cannot or simply dont want to stop using drugs at that me. The drug services
are not equipped to help these youngsters and thus the la er keep on using
drugs, some mes in very risky situa ons. Some mes they do not even want to
get in contact with the services that expect them to quit using drugs.

104
Most low-threshold services are designed to work with adults (+18 or +20). They
also do not want to mix youngsters with the older popula on. So, we can say
that there is something of a gap between the drug services and the risky young
drug users, preven ng the former from reaching the la er.
A er having heard about this gap, the NGO Free Clinic started a pilot project in
the city of Antwerp: a low-threshold drug service for young drug users. Harm
reduc on approach is the backbone of this new drug service. With this project,
called Plug-Inn, young drug users (between 16 and 25) can visit the service for free
and anonymously get informa on, see a doctor, talk to a counselor, get medical
care, get clean syringes and start an OST (opioid-subs tu on therapy). This pilot
project was started in May 2012. In 2011, the University of Ghent conducted a
survey ordered by the city of Antwerp on the needs of young drug users in the
city of Antwerp.
One of the results was that there were young homeless drug users, and another
was that there is a need for a low-threshold and harm reduc on-based approach
for these youth. We hope that the new project will sa sfy a need in Antwerp, a
need already felt for many years by Needle exchange Flanders, and we hope to
reach the youngsters more quickly and to oer them a harm reduc on approach.
Tessa Windelinckx
International perspective by Tessa Windelinckx
105
Key findings
O Substance use is s ll very common among street children, an endemic

common around the globe.
O Children as young as 9 are smoking ganja; 35% of 13 year olds and 60% of
street youth regularly smoke ganja.
O Street children from the age of 6 are regularly sning glue.
O As long as children perceive no viable alterna ves in the real world;

substances will con nue to help children see what we want to see. It
forms part of a daily resilience concept.
O The cri cal ages for many street children to use glue seem to be between
9 and 13. It is here that between 25 and 35% of the children have not tried
sning glue. The addic on may be circumvented if preven on, interven on
and harm reduc on services and ac vi es are provided quickly enough.
O The key for interven on and for preven on to succeed seems to be in

understanding why substances are used. As cited here, they are used to
both hide and solve problems, as well as replacing something that is missing
an emp ness or longing

106
CHAPTER FOUR
SEXUALITY, VULNERABILITY TO ABUSES AND

OTHER RISKS
CPCS
107
ARTICLE 34 (CRC) : Children must be protected
from all forms of sexual exploita on
and sexual abuse
Street children are frequently used and misused by local and

foreign predators who regard them as easy preys for their
sexual needs.
Chapter 4: Sexuality, Vulnerability to Abuses and Other Risks
108
Introduction
In this chapter, we will deal with the sexuality and abuses of which the children
and youth in a street situa on are the vic ms.
Their vulnerability to abuses is probably the most important risk street children
have to face and upon which they only have li le control. Being subjected to
daily violence, which is almost standardized, the child does not even wonder
about this (un)reality anymore and just puts up with it.
Of course, the violence, or rather violences, is part of the life on the street. The
child endures various types of abuse, which are sexual, physical and psychosocial.
Street children are o en insulted, psychologically abused, frightened or terrified

by some adults who are afraid of them or who dont admit that, despite their
lifestyle, they s ll are children.
The child in a street situa on has to develop his own strategies to protect himself,
hence the street group or street gang gatherings.
But having recourse to this kind of group can also be a vehicle for violence and
the gang is a source of abuses too.
Of course, this everyday life filled with violence and abuse mark them deeply
and has significant psychological and social consequences.
Introduction
109
Perpetrators of physical abuse
Children reported high levels of physical abuse in the street environment. The
children iden fied police, street youth, security guards, other street children and
bosses at work as the main perpetrators of physical abuse. 63% of the children
reported that they were physically abused by the police. Similarly, 59% children
reported being physically abused by street youth. More than one third of the
children (36%) reported they were physically abused by security guards. Other
perpetrators of physical abuse iden fied by children were other street children
(30%), the work boss (11%), rela ves (6%) and the army (5%).
Perpetrators of abuse %
Police 63.2
Street youth 58.9
Security guards 36.1
Other street children 29.5
Work boss 10.9
Rela ves 6.3
Army 4.6
NGO's sta 1.3
Others 8.9
Total 100.0
Experience of bea ng
The experience of a bea ng in street life is high among the street children. It is
found that 64% of the children reported to having been severely beaten in the
street. 19% stated they were not beaten but a significant number (17%) of the
children did not respond to whether they were beaten or not.

110
Severely beaten on the street
No
19%
Yes
64%
No
response
17%
Threats
Children were asked whether or not they were threatened by anyone. It
is discouraging to note that three out of four children (75%) reported being
threatened by police followed by street youth (55%) and security guards (43%).
Similarly, about a third of the children (31%) were threatened by other street
children. Other commonly men oned perpetrators of threats were army (12%),
the work boss (11%), rela ves (5%) and NGO sta (3%).
111
Perpetrators of threats
Others 12
NGOs sta 3
Rela ves 5
Work boss 11
Army 12
Other street childern 31
Security guards 43
Street youth 55
Police 75
0 20 40 60 80
Humilia on
Children were also asked whether or not they felt humilia on from anyone. Most
of the children reported that they felt humiliated by the police (62%) followed by
street youth (49%). The next commonly men oned perpetrators of humilia on
were security guards (34%), and other street children (32%). It is notable that
12% of the children reported being humiliated by their work boss.

112
Perpetrators of %
humilia on
Police 61.6
Street youth 49.3
Security guards 33.8
Other street children 31.5
Work boss 12.3
Army 5.6
Rela ves 5.0
NGOs sta 3.0
Others 9.3
Total 100.0
Sexual habits and abuse

Almost half of the children (47%) reported that they did masturbate. 74% of the
respondents have watched a blue (pornographic) movie. 43% reported that they
had dated a person from the opposite sex. Similarly, almost half of the children
(46%) reported that they have had a sexual rela onship without penetra on.
39% of the children stated that they have had sexual rela ons with penetra on.
Less than 25% of street children 13 years old or less stated they have had a sexual
rela onship with penetra on compared to over 50% of those 14 and older.
It is noted that there is an anomaly with the sta s cs here. More children reported
having a sexual rela onship than those who had dated a person from the opposite
sex. Two explana ons come to mind. First the respondents see a clear dierence
between da ng and having a sexual rela onship (be it casual, forced or for money).
The second explana on may be that the children are involved in same sex sexual
rela onships.
113
%
Do you masturbate?
Yes 47.4
No 51.3
No response 1.3
Have you ever watched a blue movie?
Yes 74.2
No 25.5
No response 0.3
Have you ever dated a person from the opposite sex?
Yes 42.7
No 57.3
Have you ever had a sexual rela on (without penetra on)
with anyone?
Yes 45.7
No 54.0
No response 0.3
Have you ever had a sexual rela on (with penetra on) with
anyone?
Yes 39.1
No 60.9
Forced sexual rela onships

Regarding sexual coercion, one in five children have had a forced sexual
rela onship without penetra on while 27% of the children have had a forced
sexual rela onship with penetra on.
A similar pa ern has emerged for street children aged 14 and more who have
had forced sexual rela onships with penetra on. There is a great upward spike
of those 14 years and older into these forced acts.

114
Ever had a forced sexual rela on
(without penetra on)
No
response
1%
Yes
20%
No
79%
Ever had a forced sexual rela on

(with penetra on)
Yes
27%
No
73%
115
The majority of the children (72%) believe in love. 61% reported they would
let their family choose his/her future partner. Similarly, more than three in five
children men oned that they would marry a lower caste person than their own
caste.
It is encouraging to note that the majority of the children were aware about STDs
(76%). 45% of the children reported that they have spoken about sex with an
adult. Moreover, a fi h of the children reported that they would pay to have sex.
%
Do you believe in love?
Yes 72.2
No 27.8
Would you let your family choose your future partner?
Yes 61.3
No 38.7
Would you marry a lower caste person? (than yours)
Yes 63.2
No 36.4
No response 0.3
Do you know about STDs?
Yes 76.2
No 23.5
No response 0.3
Have you ever spoken about sex with an adult?
Yes 45.4
No 54.6
Would you pay for having sex?
Yes 22.2
No 77.8
Total 100.0

116
accounts
Physical and psychological abuses
Psychological abuse causes lots of damage. It is present everywhere: throughout
the relationship with the general public, with the other street gangs, and
some mes even with the childs own gang.
On the street, insults are erup ng, and verbal aggressions as well as disdainful
and demeaning looks are omnipresent. The street gangs world can be considered
as a flexible network of contacts. Everything there is organized and structured.
It is the same within a gang, which has got its own rules and codes. Structure
also implies hierarchy. The la er is being set up very naturally.
Not through democracy but by force, be it physical, mental or intellectual.

To become a leader, some will stop at nothing, elbow their way to it and be
completely unscrupulous about being violent in their smallest deeds and gestures.
These methods of opera on open wide the door to abuses, be they psychological,
physical or sexual.
117
Paradoxically, the most vulnerable and marginalized persons are also the ones
who receive the least protec on. A lot of crimes or abuses go unno ced or
unpunished just because the prejudices we have of street children encourage
us to turn a blind eye on many degrading things.
During our discussions and observa ons, we were struck by the way children
consider these abuses to be normal.
The street is an environment of brutality, you have to fight to survive and,

conversely, the child becomes violent too. He will re-enact what he has been
through on the younger children.
Sexual habits:
Because of his day-to-day life on the street, the child is ini ated into sexuality
very young, and unfortunately o en through the abuses he has had to face.
Many confide that they start masturba ng at a very young age (ini ated by the
oldest ones) and that they use pornographic materials.
Even if it is natural to become interested in sexuality when one reaches

adolescence, it is more worrying and dicult to analyse carefully when it comes
to pre-pubescent children having sexual behaviors.
Sexual abuses:
There are many dierent factors that make abuses easier on the street on the
youngest by the oldest. On the street, children are le unsupervised from an
early age and are part of a group. Without any specific educa onal model, they
are readily exposed to violence which they trivialize and normalize.
When a child ends up on the street, the possibility for him to be sexually abused
significantly increases given the environment. At the first abuse, the child endures
a deep emo onal hurt. Then, the increase in the number of rapes and abuses
forces him to develop mechanisms in order to forget, to be ahead of this daily
life (it is this daily resilience concept that we developed previously).
The vast majority of the vic ms think that it is also their fault and there are
various morally harmful consequences: guilty feelings, a feeling of inferiority,
depression, loneliness, etc.

118
The repeated assaults become habits and the child will act out this mechanism
on other younger children.
This rou ne of violence and abuses drive a lot of children to consider a financial
gain for the abuse they are subjected to. Instead of searching plas c in the cold
for a few rupees, why not agreeing on having a picture taken while naked for
the same price?
Besides the tragic moral consequences of sexual abuses, it is obvious that other
risks are to be considered: the undressed pictures of Nepali street children feeding
pedo-pornographic networks on the Internet and sexually transmi ed diseases
also pose a real risk.
Dragged into it by their friends, it seems that the children in a street situa on
discover sexuality and its torments which is a big social taboo in this country
earlier than the other Nepali children.
The child has dreams, thinks about the girls, dreams about his first date, but
reality quickly returns with a vengeance. He is a street child, dirty and despised.
Some girls manage to survive beside them. They usually are the vic ms of
the worst abuses.
In Kathmandu, the street child or youth is subjected to so much violence that,

in the end, he himself becomes a violent and aggressive person, as well as
a molester. His sexuality isnt well adjusted, nor is it normal for his age, for
his sexual habits are precocious and o en abusive or violent. Many end up
considering sex only as gainful and violent.
Marriage prospects, however, dont seem to change because of the street. The
child s ll conceives of his family choosing a spouse for him one day, true to
the tradi ons. When we asked them about love and feelings, we only got few
answers. But is it really possible to talk about love in a life made up of violence?
The needs of all kinds that these children, le to their own devices, have on
the street make them very vulnerable to the approaches of any pedophile
or predator be he a foreigner, a Nepali, or even a member of their own
119
family or gang because, in such life condi ons, everybody can be a predator
for everyone. Rela onal and hierarchical structures which some mes exist
between gangs and within one, open wide the door to abuses, insomuch as
you have to be able to elbow your way and overwhelm the others to become
a leader.
Violence is there, everywhere and all the me, be it sexual, physical, moral
or psychological.
In some areas of Kathmandu or other ci es, the number of children who are
the vic ms of sexual abuses is par cularly worrying. This phenomenon takes
root in a specific social context. Children in a street situa on are o en rejected
by society and considered as poten al criminals by the authori es. Their need
for money, medical care, a en on and food make them very vulnerable to the
approaches of any pedophile, be he a foreigner or a Nepali.
Sumit (17 years):

Im an adopted boy. I went to school un l grade 6. Everything was normal when
suddenly I found out about my past. Then I started having adjustment problems
in my family. I got bad feelings toward my elder brother because I was physically
and emo onally abused.
Because of the lack of love and feeling as an unwanted child, I made friends on
the street and ran away from home.
Now, Im a street boy, involved in many sexual ac vi es. Ive dated many street
girls. I was also forced to have sex. Personally, I never paid to have sex with anyone.

120
Laxman (14 years):
A er my mother passed away 6 years ago, my father remarried. I didnt have a
good rela onship with my stepmother and my father didnt give me much love.
He always agreed with my stepmother, so I got totally confused. I started working
to be free from any further humilia on.
One day, my neighbor asked me to go with him to Kathmandu where he could

make a lot of money. I went with him to capital city, but the big dreams we had
never came true. I didnt know anybody in Kathmandu, so I had no other op on
but to beg to survive. That is how the street became both my new home and family.
Ive never experienced any sexual abuse and have never been talking about sex
with an adult either.
Hari (17 years):

My name is Hari and Im 17 years old. I earn 200 rupees a day as a jami. I spend
my money on street life. Before, I was dominated by my family. Now, I have very
nega ve feelings and thoughts about life and society. Ive had sexual intercourses
with many girls but I dont believe in love because I never experienced true love
with anybody.
While I was receiving treatment for tuberculosis, they found out that I was HIV-
posi ve. I was very disappointed and tried to recover soon but I couldnt. My
health is ge ng worse day a er day and I have problems breathing. I have very
nega ve thoughts about my life. I also realized what was going wrong in my life
and tried to change it.
Now, Im having regular check-ups and Im recovering, ge ng be er day by day.

Slowly, I can stand on my feet again, my breathing problems are disappearing and
I qui ed smoking. I have regrets about what I did in the past, but I must accept it.
Noraj (15 years):

My house is near Hetauda, in the Makwanpur district. I came to Kathmandu 5
years ago, following my friends. While staying on the street, various illegal and
immoral things happened to me. Ive also slept with street girls. It is no big deal
that boys have sex with a lot of girls and vice versa. Some mes, people come
and take some girls with them. For my first sex experience, I gave money. But
121
now I have a girlfriend so I dont have to pay anymore. I use condoms every me
I have sex. I know about sexual diseases and HIV-AIDS. I was only 12 when I had
my first sex experience. My friends also had sex at that age.
Narayan (17 Years):

Ive been living on the street since I was 7. I le my home because of a friend.
I think the Pashupa area is a good place for me to be. There are many great
things here. The police, the Pashupa development funds security guards and
other youth abuse us physically. When the police arrest us, we have to wash
their clothes and clean the toilets in the police sta on.
There are many girls living here. Before, I some mes had sex with them but now
Im married to a girl who also lives in the Pashupa area.
I am working day and night: I carry wood and straw and I fire the dead bodies
with my elder brother. I earn 400-600 rupees a day. I save the money I earn and
send it to my family. I also did a blood test, the results are good. I am happy
with my family.
Alisha:
Im 14 years old now. I le home when my mother passed away. My father
remarried to another woman who usually ba er and scold me. They used to
ba er me every day for no reasons so I ran away and came to Kathmandu where
I started working as a servant. I did for 6 months but I was emo onally and
physically abused. Policemen abuse me and force me to have sex with them at
night. When I deny them it, they say dirty words, ba er me and threaten me too.
Im in love with a boy from my group. If my boyfriend tries to leave me, I cut my
hands myself.
Sushil (14 years):

My permanent address is in Hitudha, but my uncle lives in Banipa. I didnt like
my uncle because he is always domina ng me, so I ran away from home. I went
to Pokhara where I stayed about 4-5 years (on the street). Then I went to the
Thamel area where Ive been staying for 2-3 years, begging on the street with 5
friends to earn 400-500 rupees a day. But we have to divide that money in 5. Ive
got no problem to eat in the day me, because some people give us food every
day, but some mes at night we dont find any food. Im smoking cigare es, taking

122
dendrite and all types of other drugs. I like to masturbate when I watch porn
movies. From me to me, I use street girls for sex. I know about condoms, but
I dont like to use one. Come what may. Some mes, we have sex with street
girls in group. For me, girls are used only for sex. In a group, I feel safe and
I also enjoy life, especially at night. I didnt like to study, but now Im happy,
begging in the Thamel area.
Pradip Dakhal (17 years):

I came here from Bardibas 3 or 4 years ago to find a job, with the permission
of my family, because we are poor. Now, I collect wasted paper boxes and sell
it in Kalima Kaward. Before, I worked in a meat shop. I worked hard but a er
3 months the shop owner s ll hadnt pay me my salary, so I decided to stop
working there. Ive been living for 3-4 years in the Basatapur area, collec ng
wasted papers. I earn 200-300 rupees a day, but I cant save anything. Now Im
weak and sick, and when it rains I cant find any paper box, so most of the me
I sleep in the Basantapur Temple. When I heard that Saroj Pariyar had been
killed by Basanta with a knife some weeks ago, and that the police arrested
the la er and also Rajes, I began to feel very unsafe on the street. Later, Id
like to be a driver or to undertake a job training in order to find a good job
and earn money.
Arjun (17 years):

Ive been on the street since I was a child. At the beginning, I begged on the
street, then slowly I started picking plas c and selling it. As Im ge ng older,
it is more and more dicult to work because, slowly, Im ge ng weak and
sick. Moreover, small children also deny my instruc ons and orders. Thus, it is
compulsory for me to do easier works. Now Im picking, pick-pocke ng, robbing,
etc. 6 months ago, I was picking on the 4th floor of a building when the owner
woke up and shouted, so I jumped from the 4th floor. When I hit the ground,
my head hurt a lot and my face was fully grazed, but I couldnt undergo any
treatment nor could I tell anyone else about it.
Abishek Shrestha:
Im 11 years old. My parents lived in Birgunj. They worked as servants. My
father died of TB and my brothers went to India. Ive been living in Narayanghat
for 3 years. Im a water seller. Some mes, the older street fellows steal our
money and force us to do bad works. Ive already had sex with many girls. I
want to be a driver.
123
Sagar:
Ive been to school un l grade 2. Ive been living on the street for 7 years now.
My mother has been working as an overseas employee for 5 years. My father
remarried. My stepmother sends me money and calls me on the phone. They
have their own hotel, which is run by my father. Im used to taking glue and Vola
and to smoking cigare es. I dont want to go back home, so Im not staying there.
I work as a rag picker and earn 250 to 500 rupees a day. Im sning glue every
day. The police arrested me once for the and punished me.

124
By Milan Dharel
Director CWISH (Nepal)
Street Children: Quest of Dignity in light of Human

Rights
In the contest of seeking, preserving and fostering human dignity, children are the
ones who are le behind in the queue. The adult male leads the social pa ern and
prac ces. They foster social norms and values, set the framework of standards and
quality of life, rules to obey and follow in life. The forma on of such rules frame free
and poten ally humane living. Ul mately, one grapples with the concept of equity,
dignity, freedom and self-worth. The abusive prac ces of adult males erode the truth
of evolving capacity and diversity of nature and freedom of choice. Street children are
the witness of suering of the adult masculine formula on and the imposi on of social
norms and values about humane life.
Street children have not been accepted by the tradi onal norms of humane society
so they challenge them. Further, the street children have uniquely conceptualized
these prac ces. The framework of family, the societal unit, understanding dignity and
founda ons of individual protec on within a group have been adopted but in their
own way.
Despite moun ng threats, risks, fear, suering and o en harm to their body, mind and
life, street children have proved that they are the winners. They are winning against
those threats and are evolving and possessing abili es to set their own framed society.
The dirt and dust of the street has not been able to scare them as it does with other
urban people. Rather, they have converted it to be their own mate. On the street they
have the strength; they are the capable ones.
Again, the ques on arises, is the street the right place for such poten al human beings?
Does the conqueror live in the street? Whose interven ons are s gma zing the winner?
Do the street children care again and reclaim their posi on, as they deserve? Or are
they allowed to seek their dignity?
National perspective by Milan Dharel
125
No, the current modernized liberal urban society with its fabricated masculine norms
and values has set boundaries for the street children to reenter their domain to a ain
human dignity with equity and rights. Street Children are discriminated against, but
on what basis? Is it caste, class, or sex? Street children are scolded, chased and o en
beaten, for what? For walking on the street, for glaring at others, for asking for food
or for not accep ng the modern liberal urban people norms? Moreover, those street
children are abused, sexually molested, but by whom? By other street children or by
the influen al, honoured, powerful, rich, seemingly decent people?
The facts demonstrate that street children dont care. Not because they dont want
to, but because they see it worthless to call for jus ce against their perpetrators.
Therefore, we do care and we have to care, as a community close to street children,
as a community who understands their poten al, as a community respec ng their
dignity and as advocates for their human rights.
We, the civil society, the advocate, the campaigner, the welfare workers have to be
together not only among us but also with the street children. We need to reconceptualize
the frame of social norms and values not as we experience it in an adult patriarchal
masculine guided concept but as a free, independent, co-exis ng, diversified and
dignified community. We have to understand and respect that the worth of life that
we possess and that the street children possess are nothing less than the same.
Violence and abuse against street children, the diversion of street children into the current
framing of society and family is neither jus fiable nor applicable. Street children never
accept limita ons of freedom, so we need to redesign our programs and interven ons
that deny all jus fica on on abuse and violence against street children, encroachment
on their freedom and lessening their dignity. The interven on we propose, plan or apply
should be able to prevent sources (Family/Society) from giving birth to street children,
prevent all forms of risk and reduce the harms against street children. They should be
able to empower street children to seek support with enabled service providers. This
demands the reconstruc on of the social concepts about family, respect to the child
and considera on of children as subjects of human rights and as individuals.
The street has never been a first choice, rather a last op on among the worst for
children, let us look for an alterna ve to the street where dignity can be recognized
and childrens human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
Milan Dharel

126
By Prem Krishna Aryal
Country Learning Coordinator, Plan Nepal
Adolescent Girls locked in Dinings of the Dark

Overview:
Nepal is a developing country where nearly 28 million people (25% of the total
popula on) are living below the poverty line. Nepal is ranked 144 of 182 countries as
per the human development index (Human Development Index Report 2010, UNDP).
It is es mated that 2.6 million children aged from 5 to 14 years are involved in child
labor, usually in the agricultural sector and 12,000 girls were tracked into the urban
centers of Nepal and across the border into India (Interna onal Labor Organiza on
Report, 2001).
A decade long poli cal conflict contributed to mul ple depriva ons by hampering
the delivery of basic services, restric ng development assistance and causing the
breakdown of family and community networks which con nue to face discrimina on
and chronic economic insecurity.
Sexual exploita on is defined as one of the worst forms of child labor (ILO Conven on
1999, Ar cle 182). The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued direc ves to Control Sexual
Harassment towards Working Women in Work-Places such as Dance Restaurants,
Dance Bars, 2065 to create a safe working environment. Under this directive,
Monitoring Commi ees for the entertainment industry are to be established through
the District Administra ve Oce to regulate and monitor the night entertainment
industry. These monitoring commi ees are made up of the Chief District Ocer, the
Chief of the District or Municipality Police Ocer, Women and Child Development
Ocer and invited members, including representa ves from the Night Entertainment
Entrepreneurs Associa on, Labor Oce and Municipality, Department of Co age and
Small Scale Industries and Internal Revenue. However, the Supreme Court direc ves
have not been fully internalized and brought into prac ce.
The sex industry cons tutes a serious obstacle to the achievement of womens
equal opportuni es in the business sector. Women employees have less chance
National perspective By Prem Krishna Aryal
127
to create the rela onships and opportuni es that would enable them to gain
promo on and recogni on. Many have to suer indigni es visited upon them
by male colleagues who return from sex industry venues (Womens Studies
Interna onal Forum, 2010). Current literature indicates that the situa on of
women involved as an adult service is a very demeaning occupa on with low
morale, no social dignity, becoming vic ms of violence and having li le or no
family values.
Nepal has developed a suppor ve legal and policy framework to ensure that
childrens protec on rights are in law. The Conven on on the Rights of the Child
(CRC) was ra fied in 1990, and various ILO conven ons aimed at preven ng child
labor and other child abuses are in force. These instruments have guided the
protec on of child rights in the Interim Cons tu on.
School dropouts, adolescent girls, and cabin restaurants/ bars

In the recent years the sector of small hotels and restaurants in Nepal has
emerged as an intermediary supply site in the context of tracking of girls and
young women. Thousands are employed as waitresses, hostesses, dancers, etc
throughout the country. A significant number of girls under 18 years old are
working in this sector. Many of them have been forced to work in extremely poor
health and unsafe condi ons, receive very low salaries, are o en denied wages
or forced into indebtedness to their employers. They are frequently forced to
conduct ac vi es that are deleterious to their physical and social wellbeing, in
par cular, entertaining male customers with the consequence of physical and
sexual abuse.
Once my employer forced me to entertain one Indian client and have

sexual rela ons with him. He was heavily paid for this by the client.
While performing sexual ac vity with the client I fainted and had genital
bleeding. A er that I was taken to the hospital by the employer. Till
now my employer used to deduct my salary men oning that he had
spent a lot for my treatment so he is deduc ng it to compensate.
18 year old girl
When you start working as cabin a endant, you have to do whatever

you are asked for and live with the problem.
19 year old girl

128
Nepal, Itahari Municipality is a fast growing city of the eastern part of the country.
This has resulted in both posi ve and nega ve impacts in women and childrens
lives. The municipality is located at the main transporta on junc on of eastern
Nepal, and is thus a town of emerging importance. At the bus terminal at Itahari,
thousands of passengers are arriving and depar ng each day. Entrepreneurial skills
and its use for economical ac vi es of residents belonging to the municipality have
also become more visible. The growing city life is gradually becoming expensive.
The girls/women migrated from the hills and other part of the country; refugees
and some circus returnees started to live in the city so that they could find earning
opportuni es but they were unable to find jobs and they have become more
vulnerable. In the mean me, numbers of cabin restaurants have been opening
in the area. The cabin restaurants a ract many girls/ women who were seeking
a job to sustain living. In such a situa on, the cabin restaurant owners were able
to mo vate the girls/women to work as a clients/customers service provider
in their restaurants. Their main job is to entertain clients and also involve in
sexual ac vi es (Plan, 2009). They have to face many kinds of exploita on from
clients and owners while working in the restaurants. Ini ally, they take a li le
bit of alcohol on the request of the clients which makes them feel free from
stress and tension to oer good service to the clients. As a result they gradually
become alcoholic and suer from dierent kinds of reproduc ve health problems
unwanted pregnancy, early pregnancy, sexual diseases, psychosocial trauma,
HIV posi ves and in some cases, death.
I have worked as CA but I hate this job. Many girls join this profession
because of their poor economic condi on.
18 year old girl
Now I came to know that this is not a good job. Now I will advise other
also not to enter in this professional.
19 year old CA girl
A survey done in 38 cabin restaurants of the Itahari Municipality, found 196

adolescent girls and women. 61 of them were aged between 12-18 years (15 were
married) were school drop outs, and 118 of them were age between 19-25 years
(76 were married). Most of the married girls/women were either pregnant or had
a young child but their husbands either disappeared for years or were already
married to other women. It was found that the pregnant women or adolescent
girls were facing many problems rela ng to an unwanted pregnancy. The girls/
National perspective By Prem Krishna Aryal
129
women were without support or protec on either within the workplace, or
from being displaced from their family/community, or due to their poor economic
condi on. It has been frequently noted that they are at extremely high risk of
sexual exploita on and the worst forms of child labor. Similarly, some young aged
children, who have given birth at an early age whilst working as a cabin a endant,
are deprived to enjoy their early childhoods (UPCA, 2010).
Prem Krishna Aryal

130
By Sheetal Rana
PhD Candidate-School of Social Work-University of Minnesota
Vulnerability to abuse and other risks

Street life increases street childrens vulnerability to abuse and exploita on, threatening
their wellbeing and healthy development. There are millions of street children and
youth across the world and in Nepal living in abject poverty, in violent condi ons,
subject to harsh and unremi ng health, social, and psychological pressures, exploited
by adults and older youth, and forced into marginal work. This has been found in
many studies of street children from across the globe (Hechts, 1998; Beazley, 2002;
Kilbride, Suda & Njeru, 2000) as well as in studies of Nepali street children, including
in my study for Frontline youth work with street children and youth in Nepal and
the research done for this book.
Nepali street children, ranging from age 6 to 18 years, are vulnerable to abuse and
exploita on because of both circumstances and choice. Typically, these young people
are from poor, marginal, and o en troubled families, and have le their families for
nearby to further away towns or ci es. Their presence on and use of public spaces
make them vulnerable to dierent kinds of abuses. For example, the need to support
themselves and a lack of guidance and protec on of responsible adults make these
young people easy targets for sexual abuse and exploita on by foreign and Nepali
pedophiles. Many of these young people are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse
by their peer group leaders who do so to control and exercise authority over these
young people. Addi onally, these young people engage in risky behaviors, such as
smoking cigare es, sning glue, drinking alcohol, cu ng themselves, having sexual
rela onships with mul ple partners, and engaging in survival sex. These ac vi es
make them vulnerable to verbal and physical abuse by the general public and local
police.
There may be manifold consequences of these ac vi es and abuses. Street ac vi es

and abuses put street children at risk of poor mental and physical health, including HIV
and other sexually transmi ed infec ons. This is further exacerbated by these young
peoples limited access to basic services, including access to clean water, nutri ous
International perspective By Sheetal Rana
131
food, and personal hygiene facili es. Furthermore, many of these young people are
not in school and have limited job skills to survive o the streets, which may keep
them trapped on the streets and in poverty. A deeper understanding of all these
issues is basic to responding more eec vely to the needs and problems of street
children and youth.
In understanding street children and their vulnerability to abuse and other risks, the
focus thus far has been mostly on their vic miza on. Viewing these young people as
vic ms of abuse and exploita on creates a moral impera ve for society to respond
to the problems associated with street children. However, this view ignores resiliency
of these young people and does not recognize them as ac ve agents of their lives.
These young people are not just passive vic ms; they are also survivors. They learn
from their environment and interpret what they learn in dierent ways to (re)create
their childhood that may dier from what is generally seen as a normal childhood.
These street children nego ate with their environment and use innova ve ways to
protect themselves and survive in harsh street environments. Frontline youth workers
who work with Nepali street children noted that these young people are observant,
alert, cri cal, and use services provided by NGOs in ways that they see as fulfilling
their needs. As a survival strategy, they may conform to the expecta ons, norms,
and values of their peer groups. They may engage in risky behaviors, such as sning
glue and sex work, to cope with the reali es of street life, including hunger, cold and
personal problems and troubles (Hecht, 1998; Kudra , Plummer, Dafaala, & Yousif,
2008; Sherman, Pli , Hassan, Cheng, & Zafar, 2005). This frame for understanding
street children and their everyday lives promotes a child-centered approach.
Broadening our understanding of vulnerabili es from both vic ms and survivors

perspec ves helps us be er recognize these young peoples needs as well as their
abili es, interests, and aspira ons. These in turn strengthen street childrens rights to
voice and meaningful par cipa on in programs and services aimed at helping them
live healthy lives and become responsible ci zens. Such an approach empowers young
people to become responsible for their lives on the streets as well as o the streets
and in NGOs drop-in, transit, and rehabilita on centers, thereby strengthening their
mo va on to posi vely change their lives.
In summary, street children are vulnerable to different kinds of abuse and

exploita on, and understanding these are essen al for addressing the problems

132
of street children in ways that are appropriate, meaningful, and eec ve. To do
so, we must not only view these young people as vic ms but also as survivors,
who are resilient, resourceful, and ac ve agents of their lives.
References:
Beazley, H. (2002). Vagrants Wearing Make-up: Nego a ng Spaces on the
Streets of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Urban Studies, 39(9), 1665-1683.
Hecht, T. (1998). At Home in the Street. Street Children of Northeast Brazil.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kilbride, P., Suda, C. & Njeru, E. (2000). Street Children in Kenya. Voices of children
in Search of a Childhood. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Kudra , M., Plummer, M. L., Dafaala, N., Yousif, N. D. E. (2008). Children of the sug:
A study of the daily lives of street children in Khartoum, Sudan, with interven on
recommenda ons. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32(4), 439-448.
Sherman, S. S., Pli , S., Hassan, S., Cheng, Y., & Zafar, S. T. (2005). Drug Use, Street
Survival, and Risk Behaviors Among Street Children in Lahore, Pakistan. Journal
of Urban Health, 82(3:4), 113-124.
Sheetal Rana
International perspective By Sheetal Rana
133
By Thomas Kaufmann (Director), Hannah Bristow (Project leader), Deepa Limbu
Subba (Nepal oce leader)
Ecpat-Luxembourg
Sexual abuse of the children

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) constitutes a serious
infringement of the fundamental rights of the child. This refers to the sexual
abuse of a minor consequently used by an adult as a sexual and commercial
object in exchange for a remunera on in kind or in the form of cash and either
paid to the child or to one or several third par es. Child pornography, sex trade
in children and child pros tu on, including sex tourism with minors, account for
the majority of commercial sexual exploita on of the children. These three forms
are linked together and are thus o en to be found together.
Child pros tu on, including sex tourism with children

By child pros tu on, the Op onal Protocol on the CRC refers to the use of a
child in sexual ac vi es for remunera on or any other form of considera on.
This payment could either be food, a shelter or some kind of protec on, or else
be er school grades. Child pros tu on very o en involves, for an adult, a benefit
from a commercial transac on during which the child is put at a third persons
disposal for sexual purposes.
It is important to highlight the fact that a child doesnt choose to have recourse to
pros tu on in order to survive or to buy consumer goods. S/he is mostly forced,
by some circumstances, values, social norms or abusive people into entering states
where adults take advantage of his/her vulnerability to sexually exploit him/her.
Child pros tu on doesnt only exist in South-East Asian countries. There is a

significant impact even in Europe. Sex tourism with children is a form of child
pros tu on. It refers to the commercial sexual exploita on of a child by a person
who is travelling outside his province, geographical region or country.
Sex tourists o en come from western countries, but can also come from developing
countries. In some countries, the pros tu on of minors and the local demand
already exist, and they can be increased by tourists from other countries.

134
Tracking
According to the international texts, trafficking in minors refers to the
recruitment, transporta on, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons under
18 for the purpose of exploita on which includes at a minimum the exploita on
of the pros tu on of others or other forms of sexual exploita on, forced labor or
services, slavery or prac ces similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs .
The number of minors who are the vic ms of tracking for the purpose of sexual
exploita on or forced labor is es mated at 1.8 million each year . And yet, given
the clandes ne nature of this plague, we assume that the total amount of vic ms
widely exceeds this number.
Tracking is developing within a context of increase in poverty, but also of

globaliza on: the use of the Internet, the growth of organized crime, and the
ghtening of the migra on policy are some of the factors that make it easier
for networks of tracking in human beings to be created. In addi on, unlike
drugs and weapons, children can be sold repeatedly; they are merchandise in
a transna onal business which generates billions of dollars and is o en carried
on with complete impunity.
Most of the tracking cases are not iden fied and consequently stay invisible.
Indeed, the vic ms o en dont search for help because the trackers use many
control mechanisms over them. The vic ms are indeed in a country they dont
know: they o en dont speak the language and o en dont have any iden ty
papers. This situa on allows the exploiters to manipulate them to avoid any
escape by using force and violence, having the vic ms believe that they will turn
them in to the police or that they will hurt their family.
Pictures of sexual abuses on children (pornographic depic on of

the children)
According to the Op onal Protocol on the CRC, child pornography refers to any
representa on, by whatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit
sexual ac vi es or any representa on of the sexual parts of a child for primarily
sexual purposes. This includes pictures, visual or audio representa ons and
drawings.
The term child pornography may be regarded as referring to tradi onal adult
pornography but, as it involves children, this term doesnt describe the real nature
International perspective by Thomas Kaufmann
135
of these pictures in an accurate way. To produce these pictures, the children are
forced to take part in sex acts. They are subjected to physical or mental threats
and are reduced to the status of sex objects. Moreover, the children are doubly
exploited: first during the produc on of the pornographic material and secondly
when it is spread. The vic ms indeed suer from the repeated viewing of the
pictures on the long run. It is therefore preferable and more accurate to refer to
pictures of sexual abuses on children.
Nowadays, there is more than one million pictures of tens of thousands of

children who are the vic ms of abuses and sexual exploita on on the cyberspace.
According to the United Na ons Human Rights Council from July 21, 2009:
O There are more than 750,000 sexual predators permanently

connected to the Internet all over the world;
O 200 new pictures are put into circula on every day;
O The number of serious child exploita on pictures increased
fourfold between 2003 and 2007.
However, the extent of the problem is probably s ll much larger, notably because
the produc on and distribu on of these abusive pictures of children brings in
a lot of money. In fact, this sector is valued at several billions of dollars a year.
Besides, there are many cases in which young minors feeling protected by
the distance induced by the use of technology, and o en ignorant about the
consequences photograph themselves on their own. These pictures are then
sold and distributed between peers and adults.
Why does this phenomenon exist and which children are aected
by it?
There are several factors which facilitate the development of the commercial
sexual exploita on of children (CSEC). The condi ons of extreme poverty in
which many communi es live and the lack of economic opportuni es expose
the children from families in a situa on of economic precariousness to greater
risks of being lured by false employment promises or of being sold by their own
family. Forced migra ons towards big ci es or other countries reinforce this
vulnerability. Sex tourism with children is facilitated by the fact that people travel
abroad more o en as well as by cultural and social prejudice and stereotypes
(for example: it is part of the local tradi ons, youth mature sooner here).

136
Nevertheless, each me the CSEC comes forward, it is because there has been
a request.
One of the consequences of those condi ons which favour the development
of CSEC is that this phenomenon exists all over the world. The exploita on of
children is an unfortunate reality within the poorest countries of the world, but
also within the richest ones where certain sec ons of the popula on are being
marginalized and the children vulnerable to this scourge. Even if this phenomenon
happens on a global scale, its characteris cs are dierent depending on the
country, more par cularly when it comes to the aected children. The children
who are vulnerable to CSEC may come from very poor families, be illegally present,
have lost their families, or even be enlisted by force in a conflict.
A category of children who are par cularly vulnerable to CSEC is the one of
street children. These children either live in a gang on the street, away from their
respec ve families, or stay on the street temporarily (during the day or several
days in a row) and go back to their families more or less regularly. There, le to
their own devices, they are very vulnerable to exploita on, whatever the form
(not only the sexual one). O en connected with this are addic ons to drugs and/
or alcohol which increase their vulnerability to exploita on. This street children
phenomenon also exists all over the world, but is par cularly visible in Eastern
Europe and in Asia.
Unfortunately, according to what CPCS and other associa ons on the spot have
observed, Nepal is more and more aected by this phenomenon. In this country,
street children are not the only popula on vulnerable to CSEC: the children from
rural areas are also the vic ms of trackings towards the pros tu on areas of the
big neighboring countries, but also towards the urban and tourist centers of the
country. Moreover, more and more children are employed as domes c helpers
and are thus vulnerable to dierent types of abuses from their employers. That
is why it seems important to us to get involved, since 2007, with CPCS to give
these children a chance to be protected and to be able to redevelop within society.
The perpetrators of the abuses very dierent profiles

Establishing an accurate profile of the abusers turns out to be very dicult. They
come from all the socio-professional backgrounds, from all the countries and
have dierent sexual orienta ons: heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. They
are, for the most part, men, but some women also take part in this exploita on.
137
Pedophilic behaviors are not juridic but well clinical no ons. They cons tute
sexual behaviors that an adult carries out towards prepubescent children.
A dis nc on has to be made between exclusive pedophiles, the ones who are
only a racted by children, and non-exclusive pedophiles who also have sex with
adults. These behaviors may vary, from exhibi onism without any physical contact
to penetra on acts. Some pedophiles never act out, for various reasons: morality,
shyness, repression, etc.
A person who sexually exploits children is not necessarily a pedophile and can
have sexual rela ons with a child because the opportunity arises. Thus, beyond
preferen al abusers, there are also occasional abusers who exploit children
sexually without having a sexual preference for them. The perpetrators of such
abuses are indeed in a situa on where there are some factors which disinhibit
the fact of ac ng out: a child is easily approachable (proposals in bars, night clubs,
on the street), the perceived anonymity of the travel context and the illusion
about the childrens consent, etc. The indierence to the partner or the sense
of impunity can also facilitate such a sexual abuse on a minor.
Finally, it should be noted that foreigners are not the only ones to exploit children
sexually: child pros tu on cannot be reduced to the sole sex tourism.
Conclusion
Sexual exploita on of children is not a new phenomenon, it has existed for
centuries and within very dierent cultures. However, it is possible to iden fy
the new direc ons this plague is currently heading in and which will help us focus
the fight against CSEC in the future.
On the one hand, the development of the new technologies contributed to a

real boom in pictures and videos of child abuses, par cularly even if not only
on the Internet. On the other hand, the development of mass tourism and the
fact that people travel abroad more o en also facilitate the generaliza on of
sex tourism with children across the world. This phenomenon is therefore not
restricted to the sole South Asia countries anymore.

138
Considering all this, it seems all the more essen al to support the children who
are vulnerable to sexual exploita on, among which street children can be found.
Hannah Bristow, Project Leader, ECPAT Luxembourg

Thomas Kaumann, Execu ve Director, ECPAT Luxembourg
Deepa Limbu Subba, Head of the ECPAT Luxembourg oce in Nepal
ECPAT Luxembourg
ECPAT Luxembourg is a non-governmental organization (NGO)

established in the form of a not-for-profit associa on incorporated
under Luxembourg law.
Ocially approved by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Aairs

in 1999 and sponsored by the Ministry of the Family and of the
Integra on, it is a member of the interna onal ECPAT network (End
Child Pros tu on, Child Pornography & Tracking of children) which
groups more than 80 members together in more than 70 countries and
which is the prime example concerning the fight against commercial
sexual exploita on of children (CSEC) on the interna onal scene.
139
Key findings
O To state the obvious, the sta s cs in this chapter again reinforce the no on
that the streets are not a safe environment for children to live in.
O Street children live under constant fear of emo onal abuse (threats and
humilia on) but the threats o en resulted in severe bea ngs and physical
abuse. The major perpetrators were police, security guards and street
youth. To a lesser extent, fellow street children were also involved in abuse.
O Society has turned a blind eye to the internal abuses that occur within
the street gangs/groups. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the general
population, for whatever the motivation, prefer not to deal with the
injus ces displayed in the parallel world or culture of the street.
O It may appear that the street children have formed clear distinctions
between love and sex. More research would need to be done, but one
senses there is no union between the two. As expressed by Kaufmann is
it really possible to talk about love in a life made up of violence?
O Even with separa on from families, the majority of the children hold firm
to cultural norms such as family arranged marriages.
O In contrast, the street children are quite egalitarian in their stance in

welcoming marriage to lower castes.
O Sexual rela onships with penetra on (forced and own choice) drama cally
increases for street children 14 years and older. It is inconclusive which
occurs first.
O Rana reminds us that as well as being vic ms, children in a street situa on
are also resilient, resourceful and active agents of their lives and are
survivors.
O Street children use NGOs to fulfill their needs.

140
CHAPTER FIVE
SOCIAL CONTEXT, GROUP IDENTITY AND

CONFLICTS
CPCS
141
ARTICLE 37 (CRC) : No child should be subjected to
torture degrading treatment (nor be) deprived of
his or her liberty unlawfully
Street children are frequently arrested, beaten, morally abused

and some mes tortured by legal or illegal authori es.
Chapter 5: Social Context, Group Identity and Conflicts

142
Introduction
It is obvious that the child in a street situa on is not an isolated being. He is o en

a member of a group which reacts against other groups in a specific social context.
Of course, the child, such as any individual, builds an image of what surrounds
him, assigning dierent roles to everyone. Opponent, foil, prey, daily quest
Social context also implies conflicts. The vision(s) the Other social actors have on
the street world and, above all, on street children, cannot be forgo en.
What is the social context in which the child and the conflicts he has to face
exist?
The years we spent observing the situa on confirmed that the child is not isolated
on the street. On the contrary, he maintains a whole set of social rela onships,
is o en part of a group, a gang that has got its own habits and informal rules.
Most children we met are part of a group and confirmed that this alia on is
something of a need. It seems that being isolated on the street is unsustainable
mainly for protec ve reasons, but also for conviviality issues.
Introduction
143
Social Context
The majority of the street children (78%) reported that they were part of a street
based group or gang. More than 60% of the street children agreed that being
in a group is compulsory to survive while on the street. Having said that, 52%
of the children disagreed on illegal acts are necessary part of being in a street
group, while 35% agreed that violent acts were necessary.
Part of street-based group/gang ?
No
22%
Yes
78%
It is notable that about a third (30%) of the street children agreed that carrying
knives/blades is necessary to protect the group against other. On the other hand,
54% disagreed and 15% of the children held a neutral view on it.
More than half of the street children (56%) agreed that taking drugs together is
a group habit while about a third (30%) disagreed and the remaining 13% had
a neutral view on it. 66% of the respondents agreed that street life in a group is
enjoyable whereas only 22% of the children disagreed.
Two thirds of the children agreed that the group oered protec on against the
rest of society (against moral and physical abuses) while about a fi h of the
children (19%) disagreed.

144
More than two out of five children (43%) reported that they agreed on the
statement the group encourages having sexual rela ons while almost the same
percentage of children disagreed (41%) on it.
Children were also asked whether they agreed, neutral or disagreed with the
statement the street group is the only real social support you have found. More
than half of the children (51%) agreed while about a third of the children (29%)
disagreed with this statement.
It is discouraging to note that more than a quarter of the children (27%) agreed
to the statement the group leader has the right to use violence on others while
13% of the children remained neutral.
Social context
The group leader has the right to 1
use violence on others ?
27 13 60
The street group is the only real

social support you have found ?
51 19 29 1
The group encourages having

sexual rela ons ?
43 15 41 1
The group is a protec on against 1

the rest of society ?
66 14 19
Street life in a group is enjoyable ? 66 12 22 0
Taking drugs together is a group

habit ? 56 13 30 0
Carrying knives/blades is necessary

to protect the group ? 30 15 54 1
Illegal acts are a necessary part of

being in street group ? 35 12 52 1
While on the street, being a part

of a group is compulsory to survive ? 61 12 27 1
% age
Agree Neutral Disagree No response
145
Conflict with Authori es
It is notable that two thirds of the children (66%) have been arrested by the
police.
Arrested by the police ?
No Yes
34% 66%
37% of the children have been arrested five or more mes. Most of the arrested
children reported that the reason for being arrested by the police was for stealing
(45%) followed by robbery (16%). 10% of the children reported that they had
been arrested without any reason.
Contrary to earlier sta s cs, very few street children are arrested for glue sning
even though 76% of the children stated that they use the substance and they
openly sni glue on the streets. Similarly, whilst there has been a sharp increase
in street children begging, there are very few arrests. Is there a reason why
dierent ac vi es are tolerated more than others?

146
%
Number of mes (arrested by police) ?
1 22.1
2 17.1
3 14.6
4 9.0
5 or more mes 37.0
Total 100.0
For which reason (main) ?
Stealing 45.2
Robbery 16.1
No reason 9.5
Sleeping on the street 6.5
Figh ng 5.0
Drugs 5.0
Working at night 2.5
Pick pocke ng 2.0
Sni glue 1.5
For shelter and educa on 1.0
Begging in Pashupa area 1.0
Others 4.5
Total 100.0
It is discouraging to note that an overwhelming majority of the children (82%)

were not treated well by the police while in police custody.
147
Treated well by police ?
Yes
18%
No
82%
Less than half of the arrested children (47%) reported that a social worker or a
lawyer came to visit them in custody while 53% of the children reported that a
social worker or lawyer did not visit them at all.
Access to lawyer ?
Yes
47%
No
53%

148
68% of the arrested children stated that they were humiliated morally or physically
abused whilst in custody.
Humiliated morally or physically abused ?
No
32%
Yes
68%
It is notable that over a third of the children (34%) were arrested by the police
for the first me by the age of 10. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of
the children (92%) were arrested for the first me by the age of 15.
25
20
20 19
16
15
13 10
10
7
5 4
2 2 4 3
1 1
0
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Age at first arrested
149
Access to services
87% of the street children had visited Non Governmental Organiza ons (NGOs).
Similarly, more than three out of four children (78%) o en slept at an NGO.
The majority of the children (86%) men oned that they like NGOs. However, a
propor on of the children (12%) reported that they do not like NGOs. Two thirds
of the children (66%) reported that they regularly visit dierent NGOs.
Nearly one out of four street children (23%) perceived that NGOs act like business
companies and they misuse the childs image. On the other hand, three quarters
of the children (75%) did not think so.
The overwhelming majority of the respondents (89%) think NGOs are helping
street children properly.
%
Have you ever been to an NGO?
Yes 87.1
No 11.9
No response 1.0
Do you o en sleep in an NGO?
Yes 77.8
No 20.5
No response 1.7
Do you like NGOs?
Yes 86.4
No 11.9
No response 1.7
Do you go regularly in dierent NGOs?
Yes 65.6
No 33.4
No response 1.0

150
Do you think NGOs act like business companies and misuse your image?
Yes 23.2
No 74.8
No response 2.0
Do you think NGOs are helping you properly?
Yes 89.4
No 9.9
No response 0.7
Total 100.0
151
accounts
What picture does the child get of his environment? Who influences him? What is
the nature of the conflicts which set him against others and who are those others?
Who or what represents authority for him? What is his link to what represents the
legal authority in his country (the police, the army, social assistance)? Those
are the ques ons we asked ourselves during our observa ons and discussions
with the children. Here is what we found out:
On the street, the child adjusts his own behavior according to the reali es
he discovers. He will develop his own defence, pres ge and survival strategies.
To protect themselves against the threats coming from everywhere (physical,

emo onal, sexual abuse) and to be stronger, the children in a street situa on
will organize themselves in small groups. However, if those groups were ini ally
formed to protect oneself against abuse, we found out that they can also be the
root cause of these abuses.
When you live in a group on the street, you also flirt with the drug scene,
criminal activities, highly risky sexual behaviors, etc.
It is important to try and understand the street childrens culture, habits and
customs. The street gangs world can be considered as a flexible network of
contacts. Everything is organized and structured. It is the same within a gang,
which has got its own rules and codes. Structure also implies hierarchy. The
latter is being set up very naturally. Not through democracy but by force;
be it physical, mental or intellectual. To become a leader, some will stop at
nothing, elbow their way to it and be completely unscrupulous about being
violent in their smallest deeds and gestures. These methods of operation
open wide the door to abuses, be they psychological, physical or sexual.
The image street children have of themselves can both be positive and
negative: on the one hand, they consider themselves as dirt (because they
are stigmatized in the general publics eyes) but, on the other hand, within
their group, they can also see themselves as a leader, a free individual who
has a role to play. Street groups or gangs play a key role in the socialization

152
and identity development process of the child. The children will be exposed
to many risky behaviors. They will quickly resign and those behaviors will
normalize quite rapidly. No child self-develops a delinquent behavior. The
legal framework which punishes deviant behaviors (notably linked to drugs
and crime) is of very little interest and quite irrelevant for street children.
Living on the fringes of society, most children often form a view on society
and the role of the State through their own experiences with authorities
(policemen, servicemen, etc.).
Often arrested without any reason (because they suffer from their bad
reputation), being granted no rights at all (the fundamental rights of children
are violated) and being often mistreated, not to say tortured, the children
have no motivation to be involved in the way normal society goes nor to
respect its rules.
Some important data came out while conducting our qualitative analysis
of the situation.
Commanding actors, social leaders:

Street children are organized in groups, the hierarchy of which can be
compared with a leadership system according to merit. One or several leaders
establish themselves as such because of the knowledge they have gained.
There is of course an unceasing violence. Similar to a wolf pack, the gang
organizes itself to survive under the coordination of the most powerful one.
The latter will receive tributes and will usually be relieved of the hardest
tasks, but will see his position challenged should he make even the smallest
mistake.
153
Gangs:
Above the small leaders, there are gangs with older members or mafias that
significantly change and aect the groups survival. O en quite powerful in the
street world, they have an influen al aura because of the advantages they
provide to the community: police protec on, supply of drugs and arms
They usually are admired because, as they also come from the street, they are
examples to be followed in the childrens eyes. Their money, clothes, cars and
power everything sugges ng to the children that they are important social
players.
The use of cigare es, drugs and alcohol:

Even if it seems astounding, the use of such drugs in groups greatly serves as
social cohesion. It binds the group together, whiles away the evenings, makes
them forget their daily life, gives a social pres ge to the one who can aord to
oer some. It allows them to leave their daily problems behind. For example,
cigare es and glue make them forget hunger when they are starving.
Solidarity in pain:
Even if it seems paradoxical compared with the previous point, it appears that,
within a group but even for a risky child coming from another gang, support will
be given if one is aected by some dicul es. In fact, feelings of compassion,
empathy or pity are commonplace. As much as violence can become considerable
in a situa on of confronta on, of hierarchical cons tu on and of internal or
external rivalry from punishment to murder if somebody cries for help, he
will be given a hand for a while.
To be absolutely clear, if the subject is harmless, he will be helped by the children

who, given their age and condi on, show a great level of altruism.
Altruism, yes. But it is not completely innocent. Being undermined all the me,
the street child has to con nuously receive, thank, steal and be disregarded.
Thus, if he can compensate for this feeling of inferiority within his group by
ac ng, giving and having a role to play, it will allow him to get back on his feet.

154
Krishna (18 years):
Ive been living on the street since I was 12. I come from Hetauda. I le home
because of domes c violence. For me, the street feels like heaven, because you
can find and see many desirable things here. We live in a small group and we help
each other all the me. This group is an important part of our lives. We dont
have any leader; we all are leaders. The group can protect you from external
violence. We all take drugs; it is a habit in our group.
Ive been kept in custody many mes for possession of drugs or because I was
accused of violence during the poli cal protest, or even without any reason. Ive
never spent more than 3 days in custody.
Rajip:
Im a 16-year-old boy from Bara. I studied in a boarding school up to grade 7. Due
to a fight with my brother, I le home and ended up on the street one year ago.
A street group gave me food and a place to sleep at night. Im very grateful to
this group because before I met them I was roaming around at night on my own.
Since the day I met them, Ive never wanted to leave them. The group is a part
of my life. Now, I smoke cigare es and take dendrite, which I didnt use before.
I didnt turn down my friends request when they oered me some.
I only want to go to the organiza on when all my friends are ready to go. Ive
done some illegal ac vi es under the influence of my friends, but Ive never
been kept in custody.
Prakash (14 years):

Im a boy from Bouddha and Ive been living on the street since I was 6. Im part
of a 6-member group in the Bouddha area. Deepak is our group leader. He is
protec ng us from the others and direc ng our group. He feeds us when we
are not able to work. Our group is like our family and Deepak is our guardian.
We always keep a knife and a chain for our safety when we go out to work. We
must give some money to our leader. But when we dont have any, he is not so
cruel, he is not forcing us.
Im not involved in any illegal ac vi es but some mes the police arrest us because
our leader made a mistake.
155
Raj:
Im a 14-year-old boy from Banepa and Ive been living on the street since I was
3. I went to a juvenile deten on center once, just because I robbed somebodys
mobile phone in the Bir Hospital area. I ran away, but unfortunately somebody
caught me and the public beat me very badly. They called the police and I was
sent to custody first, then to a correc on home. Im part of a big street gang,
we are rag-pickers. Our job usually starts in the evening, but some mes also
in the day me. There are more and more rags, so we can earn more and more
money. We have no leader, but we support each other when we are in trouble.
I have a very good contact with older gangs and they have a good contact with
the police and the authori es. Thus, I can easily go out of custody. I dont do
that very o en because we have to be careful about it, but some mes I use it
with my friends just for fun.
Pradip:
Im 17 and I come from Kavre. Ive been on the street since I was 6. Im the leader
of my gang and I have 8 to 10 followers. They all obey me, listen to my instruc ons
and respect me. They are all scared of me. Im very proud to be the leader of this
group. Children give me money out of free will, I dont force them. It is risky to
protect the members of the group. I frequently have to face gang fights, that is
why I always must keep a knife and a chain for my safety. We never work alone
because we have too many enemies.
Ive spent a lot of me in custody. During that me, my group members helped
me. Without a group and some drugs, nobody can survive on the street. These
two things play an important part in our lives.
Sabin (14 years):

7 years ago, I came to Kathmandu with my parents. My father worked in a
brick factory along with my mother. There were lots of quarrels in my house.
My father used to drink a lot so that he died of jaundice (disease). Later, my
mother remarried another man. On the street, many social workers out of
many organiza ons as well as TV and newspaper reporters come to meet us.
They ask many ques ons about us, take pictures, and then they walk away. Ive
been to most of the organiza ons of Kathmandu. Now, I dont want to answer
the reporters and social workers ques ons anymore. They only ask one type
of ques ons and then they walk away. I heard that theyve raised funds using

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our names. Some people are good and behave well, they buy us food. But many
people treat us badly.
Manisha (14 years):

Ive been living on the street since I was 8. I come from Pokhara, near the
Reminder. I le my home because of economic problems. My parents are also
living in the Pashupa area. I like it here because everything is available, such as
dendrite (glue), cigare es and other drugs, as well as sex girls. We live in small
groups (8 to 9 persons) and we are very helpful to one another. Our leader is Sunil
Shrestha. He is 22. He supports us and brings us to dierent places and dierent
programs in the organiza ons. We share the money we earn to buy food and to
do ac vi es with the group. Some mes, there is a member who doesnt bring
any money. He thus borrows money from the rest of the group and then he has
to refund when he earns some. The police arrest us from me to me, but they
release us a er a day or two. When a member does a big mistake such as pick
pocke ng or robbing, then the police charge him with 7 or 15 days in custody.
Some mes, they send us to jail too.
Anil (16 years):

I was just 7 when I started living on the street. It is interes ng and enjoyable to
stay in a group. Weve got some girls in our group. I first had sex when I was 10.
That is a normal thing on the street. When it comes to the girls, the boys fight
and accidents can happen. Some friends of mine work as agents to meet the
needs, for girls, of others. The older boys dominate and beat the younger ones,
but they also help when needed, for example when a kid is sick. Ive gone back to
my home 3 mes already. I brought money to my parents. When Im home, I lie
to my parents, pretending I work as a bus conductor. My parents would hate me
if I told them I live on the street and work as a plas c and other garbage picker.
Purna (17 years):

I was born in Lagankhel. I dont know my father and my mother died when I was
small. Ive been living on the street for 4 years now. Most of the me, I collect
wasted materials to sell them and earn money. I spend it on glue, cigare es and
food. I also steal when I lack money. When you dont have enough money, you
have to do this kind of illegal stu. We have to share the money we earn with
each other. We are all fine because everybody makes money every day. We
have to carry a knife and other blades to be able to cut plas c, shoes, wires, etc.
157
Some mes, we have a fight with another group, so we also need the knife and
blades for our own safety as well as for the safety of the group.
We take glue, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol for pleasure and for the
entertainment. At first, some friends pushed me to have sex with girls on the
street.
I had a best friend before. His name was Surya. He died of electrocu on. He had
taken drugs and he was barefoot. He and another guy started to cut a wire on the
side of the road. He didnt know it was an electric wire. When they had cut half
the wire, they suddenly cried very loud. When we heard what had happened,
we informed the organiza on, but he didnt make it.

158
By Shiva Prasad Paudel
Current Ph.D. student, Utrecht University (Netherlands); employed by Pro Public;
formerly employed with Save the Children and the Central Child Welfare Board
(Nepal)
Supreme Court ruling on street children

Introduc on
The Interim Cons tu on of 2007 provides the judicial power to the courts and
other judicial bodies, which are supposed to undertake their job in accordance
with the provisions of the Cons tu on, other laws and recognized principles of
jus ce. The Supreme Court has an ordinary jurisdic on to hear appeal, review
and repeat . Further to this, the Supreme Court has other three important
jurisdic ons: power of judicial review , power to enforce legal rights having no
or eec ve remedy and power to hear public interest cases .
The public interest jurisdic on of the Supreme Court is widely availed by groups
of ci zens who would like to get judicial remedy over public concerns. The street
children case was filed under the public interest category but it also has the
element of enforcement of legal right. This case was filed by a group of public
interest lawyers but not directly or in consulta on with street children. The
li ga on meant to provide jus ce for the children as their cases have been the
ma er of public interest and concern.
Plights of street children

Pe oners and the court largely rely on the research reports published by CPCS,
Voice of children, and the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB). The summary of
sta s cs and situa ons presented in the courts were as follows:
O Approximately 5000 children live in the streets of which approximately

1000 in Kathmandu valley.
O Every year approximately 500 children land on the streets of the Kathmandu
valley.
O Children living in the street face not only neglect but also are vic ms of
sexual, physical, substance and emo onal abuse.
National perspective by Shiva Prasad Paudel
159
O Children are also exploited for economic gain and are mobilized for criminal
purposes.
Legal scheme to protect street children

Petitioners cited two sets of legal provisions and national policy provisions
to convince the court that street children have a right and the state has the
corresponding duty to respect, protect and fulfill their rights. In the category of
interna onal protec on, pe oners refer to the provisions of Ar cles 2, 6, 19,
20, 21, 24, 34, 36 of CRC and Art. 11 of the ICESCR (Interna onal Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights).
In the category of na onal legisla on, pe oners refer to Cons tu onal protec on
of right to life, dignity and the specific right of children men oned in Art. 22. In the
category of na onal policies, the pe oner relied on Art. 34 of the Cons tu on
and three years interim plan (2064-67), which has required to set up a permanent
child fund to reach out to vulnerable children.
Pe oners demand
Pe oners had submi ed four-fold categorical demands before the court. The
orders were sought in the name of a par cular organiza on, having reviewed
their legisla ve du es. Orders 1 and 3 were sought against CCWB whereas order
2 was sought against the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. Order
4 was sought against the Ministry of Finance.
O An order of reintegra on and reunifica on of street children with their

respec ve families, as far as possible a er studying their backgrounds.
O An order of establishment of child welfare homes as mandated by Sect.
34 of the Childrens Act to keep street children in these homes.
O An order to ensure that child welfare homes are equipped with the
minimum standards set by the government of Nepal.
O An order to provide adequate resources to realize the above du es
Response from the par es

The response from the Ministries to the court is o en termed as a ritual by the
ministry. Since Nepal follows the adversarial court procedure, the government
agencies frequently refute the demands made by the pe oners without seriously
evalua ng the real scenarios. In this case also, the Ministry of Finance submi ed

160
that the Central Child Welfare Commi ee was ge ng funding but did not look into
the size of the funding in rela on to the demands made by the pe oners. Further,
the Finance Ministry also ignored whether the money was going for administra ve
expenses or programma c expenses. The response from the Finance Ministry
surely did not help the court to analyze the government commitments.
The response of the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare was full of
contradic ons and anomalies. The pe oners highlighted the current crisis that
street children were facing whereas the Ministry referred to four child welfare
homes, which have not taken any new children for at least five years. According to
the Ministry, the child welfare homes being run by NGOs are the States response
to the children. The Ministry painted the picture that there are adequate law
and structures in place and the eorts made by NGOs are adequately addressing
the issues of street children and no more interven ons in the area was required.
Unfortunately, the Ministry in the response did not dieren ate the State Du es
under the Act and the work NGOs are carrying out under personal and ins tu onal
aid. Despite the nominal capacity of CCWB and DCWB to monitor the child welfare
homes, the Ministry claimed that the minimal eorts done by the Boards were
adequate enough in rela on to the monitoring of child welfare homes. Ironically,
the Ministry indicated in its last paragraphs that the resources received from the
Ministry of Finance was not adequate for providing services.
The Ministry of Home completely denied that issues of street children fell under
their terms of reference. Maintaining its high ritual in providing a response, the
Oce of the Prime Minister wrongfully stated that the implementa on of the
Childrens Act is not under its jurisdic on but rather that of the parliament (this
was mistakenly copied from some other response that the Oce of the Prime
Minister gave to the parliament). It blamed the pe oners doing an academic
exercise by bringing the pe on to the court.
The response of CCWB highlighted its efforts to develop a policy for street
children and its latest pilot interven on was to provide psychosocial counseling
to enroll children in schools and also publish a research report. On the ins tu onal
monitoring aspects, it stated its capacity building eorts for the managers of child
welfare homes. It also stated that there is an agreement to expand the number
of child welfare homes. Interes ngly, CCWB highlighted the shared responsibility
of everyone to take care of street children and indicated that pe oners are also
not free from such duty.
161
The limita ons of ins tu onal care
In the pe on, the responses (submi ed by the respondents) and in the pleadings,
the ins tu onal rehabilita on was prominently highlighted. The pe oners were
aware that ins tu onal responses are one of the alterna ve care methods, but
the current legal schemes have not provided other op ons. The Cons tu on
only provides for protec on of vulnerable children including street children. It
doesnt further say how such children are taken care of. The Children Act doesnt
have provisions for family preserva on, preven on of separa on of the children
from their family, foster care, or other community based care . The provisions
of Muluki Ain have provided scope of in-country adop ons but there are no
government mechanisms and programs to promote such op ons.
The Childrens Act highlights that each child should be raised in his family but does
not underline that the State should take any responsibility of assis ng families to
bring up their children but for providing educa on and health services .
Hence the pe oners could neither demand the placement of street children
into the child welfare homes, nor could the state agencies respond that the best
interest of the children would be fulfilled if street children were reintegrated
with their family members having provided adequate support. It was very hard
to convince judges that they should write an order beyond what is provided by
the exis ng legal framework.
The judicial order

Chief Jus ce Min Bahadur Raymajhi and Jus ce Prakash Os presided over the
final hearing. They apprised of the responses of government ins tu ons and
noted their cri cs on the superficial response by the Oce of Prime Minister and
stated that, though eorts had been done by CCWB, in reality no concrete ac on
had been done in rela on to the establishment of child welfare homes (to keep
street children) as per the requirement of sec on 34. The court observed that
no responses submi ed by the State had categorically dealt with the problems
raised by the pe oners. The court interpreted the silence by the government
agencies that they accepted these reali es.
The Court observed that

O It is not judicious on behalf of the Government of Nepal to remain indierent
to the rights of street children, which are protected by the Cons tu on.

162
The State has a special obliga on towards children living in the street.
O CCWB is not found ac ng pro-ac vely and sa sfactorily as desired by
the childrens regula on in developing long term state policies and plan
to protect the rights of the street children; encourage individuals and
ins tu ons to establish child welfare homes or build the capacity of child
welfare homes and other centers established for similar purposes; collect
data of helpless children etc.
O The Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare is not found sensi ve
and the Oce of Prime Minister is not found responsible towards the
problem of street children.
O The state agencies are not found ac ng as desired by the Cons tu on
of 2007, the Childrens Act 1992 and Regula ons from 1995 to protect
abandoned children who are living in the streets. Their measures are not
sa sfactory and there are not even adequate child welfare homes.
Finally the court issued the order of mandamus to the Ministry of Women,
Children and Social Welfare as a judicial remedy in this case. The court ordered
the Ministry should take necessary ini a ves to protect and provide special
measures to street children in accordance with the legal provisions under the
Cons tu on, Childrens Act and Regula on.
Shiva Prasad Paudel
163
By Pralhad Kumar Dhakal
Country Director-Isis Founda on (Nepal)
Children who are contributing as members of society

A er having the experience of being with the children who spent their days and
nights in the street, scrap stores and other public and unsafe places of Kathmandu
and beyond, I became adverse with the term and ritual no on of Street Children.
It is not just because I do not enjoy playing with words and terms but because of
the fact that like other adults, children also migrate to the urban ci es in search
of a be er livelihood. In other words, rural villages of Nepal are systema cally
ignored by the State; where people can die just because of lack of a medicine
tablet. Because of the hardship for survival, people migrate to the urban ci es.
So do the children. They dont come to the streets; they come to the urban
ci es in search of a be er life. Streets and other public places, where there is a
flow of people and money, become the residence free of cost for those who
cannot aord rented accommoda on. Later, they realize that life in the streets
and other public places is dicult but at the same me it also has diverse variety
and is infinitely exci ng.
Despite the hardship in the streets, I have found that the children living here are
significantly contribu ng as members of their families. My conclusion is that they
contribute economically and socially on a higher level. They are amply concerned
about the contemporary sociopoli cal situa on of the country. Ramjane, a 12
year old boy from Lamjung, used to tell me frequently that when the armed
insurgency was at its peak in Nepal, I would like to meet Baburam and tell him
to stop killing innocent Nepali brothers and sisters. He was always concerned
about the unrest in Nepal, whereas the village children of my age were almost
ignorant about the poli cal situa on of Nepal.
Another boy, The Commando (his popular name), was determined to join the
Nepalese Army and go to the border area to protect the border of the country.
Unfortunately he is now working as helper in a truck. When I asked a boy to do/
act in front of my video camera, he picked up some mud from the ground and
painted his forehead with the mud and said merodeshkomatokokassam I oath

164
with this mud of my motherland. It seems like children are influenced by the
movies but it ma ers li le to me, what ma ers is what influences an individual.
These are just random expressions and sayings. My summary observa on is

that apart from the high level of coping skills, they have deep love towards their
villages, family, rela ves, Nepali movie stars, singers, Nepali army and many
more things that reflect a patrio c feeling for the country. Apart from that, if I
compare with the more lucky children in my family, they reflect a responsibility
and they are aware and concerned about what is going on in the poli cal arena
of the country. It is oblivious to anyone who knows what type of work children
do to survive in the streets, that they are a contribu ng member of their family
and the society too.
I have shared my experiences of being with the children who are compelled
to live in the streets through two small booklets. These were published a er
four long years experienced in the streets of Kathmandu. Save the Children UK
published the booklets Street Diary and A Life without Basic Services. These
booklets were largely about the lives of the children who are compelled to live
in the streets. I prefer not to use the term Street Children. Rather I prefer to
use term Children Compelled to Live in the Streets. It is a long term for busy
development prac oners but I recommend it because it represents the reality
of their lives. Another reason behind it is that I always wanted to respect these
ci zens of Nepal who are making a significant contribu on to our economy and
environment by doing jobs that can be untouchable jobs for many.
Kale (13 year old boy) who was a leader of the boys living in New Bus Park in
Gongabu, Kathmandu used to earn enough from working to support his family who
used to live in a squa er se lement of Dallu, Kathmandu. His whole family (mother
and two siblings) were his dependents. He had to earn from the street for the
survival of his family. For me this 13 year old boy is indeed a contribu ng member
to our society who runs a family when he himself is in his early teenage years.
Although I have a great level of respect towards Children Compelled to Live in

the Street for their contribu ons and their level of coping skills, there are serious
problems as well as there are important factors to consider for the people and
organiza ons who are interested to work with and for Children Compelled to
Live in the Street.
National perspective by Pralhad Kumar Dhakal
165
Work and income:
As men oned above, these children are doing jobs such as rag picking, which can
be untouchable jobs for many. Apart from that, there are other things that they
can do and make money from, but they are also full of hazards and they have
been frequently cheated. Having said that, some are supported by scrap vendors
(kabad). The main point to consider here is that as these children are earning and
mobilizing money and even suppor ng their families, it is next to impossible to
treat these children as passive recipient of NGOs. They may engage with NGOs
if they are treated as key contribu ng members of the ini a ve.
Informal organiza ons:

There is strong informal organiza on amongst children in the streets. They have
leadership, unity, teamwork and great strategies that make them survive in such
dicult circumstances. It is very important to recognize the fact that they are
organized and they have such strength that they are able to bring change to their
lives if we work with them, not just for them. These are the children who live in
the most dicult circumstances and s ll have a lot of fun.
Bullying and gangs:

Bullying and gang fights are common phenomenons amongst the children in
the street. We can see a child doing very hard work and make 200 rupees. Then
immediately a er, a bullyboy comes and takes his money. Apart from that, they
have their gang and territory. It is very dicult for a child from Thamel to go to
Kingsway or elsewhere. I have encountered many territorial clashes between
children in Thamel vs Kingsway, Buspark vs Gausahala etc. But we have been able
to work together with the children from six dierent loca ons in a very cordial
manner. Here, I just wanted to indicate that bullying and gangs make a huge
impact in the lives of the children and the organiza on in the streets.
Infatua on and sex:

Like other teenage children they also have sexual infatua ons but the fact is that
they can easily experiment with sex as they have freedom to do it. I listened to
many stories of boys trying sex with a boy. Boys from Buspark write le ers with
their blood to the girls in Gaushala. I have also heard stories directly from boys
who were abused by adults. Pimping is another moneymaking voca on. It is a
well-known fact that they are the ones who are at higher risk of catching sexually
transmi ed diseases and they are sexually exposed in their very early years.

166
Networks and rela onships:
Apart from their own group, children maintain very good networks and rela onships
with people who can influence their life in the street. They always maintain good
rela ons with local gangsters, local police, hotels/ restaurants, scrap stores (kabad),
street vendors, transport workers and in some cases NGOs too. It is basically part
of their coping strategy as these people have a direct influence on their life. These
people can play a role as eec ve connectors between organiza ons and the children
in the street.
Common stories:
I interviewed hundreds of children about their family background and heard many
stories during my four years of being with them. The majority of the stories are the
same: mother died father had second marriage and step mother beats me or
father died and mother got married and le home. Maybe the stories are true but
it does not make a significant dierence to the work that you intend to do with the
children in the street. A boy called Ramjane, when he returned back to Lamjung,
confided that he might lose all his property, legally, if he stays away from his home
for too long. A good level of trust and a rela onship is very important to make them
listen to any individual or organiza on.
Drug abuse:
The most serious problem amongst the children compelled to live in the street is drug
abuse. It is really sad and worrisome. Glue sning has become a part of the life of the
children in the street. I am shocked as to why the supply of dendrite is so easy? Who
supplies dendrite to the children? Cannot the administra on monitor and stop it? We
know all the answers but it is just not happening. Glue sning was not part of the
lives of the children in the streets in the past history. They used to smoke cigare es
and other things, like ganja (hashish), which was badly damaging their health. Glue
sning has been devasta ng to the health condi on of the children. I think a strong
legal ac on is the only thing that can stop or minimize it.
I feel lucky enough to see those children who have survived the street life and are
now leading a beau ful family life as respected and contribu ng members of society.
I also know many children who did not survive and died. I am always amazed with
their high level of capacity and confidence. I always hope these can be u lized more
eec vely to improve their own lives and ul mately to bring them into the mainstream
as a contribu ng member of our society.
Pralhad Kumar Dhakal

National perspective by Pralhad Kumar Dhakal
167
By Annie Fontaine
Professor, Social Service School-University of Montral (Canada)
The escalation of children estranged from society

The economic and cultural transforma ons, which have had an eect on the
world for the past few decades, now also aect Western young people. In a
situa on of social rela onships disrup on, the youth of today have indeed to
face a loss of values and norma ve bearings, as well as several obstruc ons of
the tradi onal socializa on and social integra on processes (family, school, job,
housing, etc.) which force them to constantly work on their social links to give
meaning to their lives and make a name for themselves in society.
Because society is undergoing radical transforma on, the youth stage grows
longer and longer. Children begin to experiment adolescent lifestyles and
consump on pa erns earlier while their transi on to adulthood also grows
longer. Many facets of their lives are also directly aected by the climate of
uncertainty which structures their childhood and adolescence (disintegra on and
recomposi on of the families, professional, economic and residen al instability
of the parents, etc.) as well as their integra on path into the independent life
(ending their studies, star ng a job, moving in, taking on a love commitment,
establishing a family, etc.).
To cut a long story short, while those various social phenomena contribute to
destroying intergenera onal rela onships and to dismantling the structure of
the conven onal entry path into adulthood, this period of life is s ll seen as a
quite linear transi on, the temporary nature of which would jus fy the youth to
be treated as incomplete and wai ng ci zens subordinate to the adults. However,
given that the tradi onal integra on processes (economic, professional, civic,
etc.) are breaking up and that the current situa on opens up only a few horizons
of ge ng a full-fledged place as an adult ci zen, several youths now mistrust
the integra on norms they are imposed on, or even some mes challenge them.
Thus, whereas the previous genera ons could accept to have a temporary

168
status of minor which would soon be followed by that of an independent
adult because of the assurance of a future achievement and the sensing of a
path which took shape in front of them, the necessity to handle the situa on by
themselves in order to have access to a meaningful life and to map out their
way in a world marked by individualism that several youths have to face today
endangers the social contract on which intergenera onal rela onships have
been based for decades. In such a context, the lack of recogni on the youth
feel, added to the social strains that weigh them down, undermine their bond
to society and increase the antagonis c rela onship with the ins tu ons that
lay down and enforce the rules.
Admi edly, even in the compe on context todays society lives in, a limited
category of young people manage to achieve something thanks to a capital
or to cultural, personal or family quali es as well as to various opportuni es
and protec ons from which they can benefit because of their social condi on.
Nevertheless, while others juggle between opportuni es and restric ons in this
very context, following a more or less meandering path, some young people
however accumulate a whole range of obstacles, lacks and misfortunes which
get them stuck in a rough and dicult life history.
Thus, under the burden of inequali es and structural instability, a growing part
of the young genera on has to face various forms of vulnerability, which are in
line with a chain of social disrup ons marked upstream, and/or downstream by
the weakening of the bonds they have with their social networks and, to a larger
extent, with the ins tuted social field. Moreover, aside from the family, academic,
socioprofessional dicul es crossing their path, the accumula on of material,
rela onal, ins tu onal or even symbolic disrup ons which some mes lead them
to the street brings new penal es that, through s gma za ons, depriva ons and
sanc ons, will weigh them down even more and jeopardize any hope of social
recogni on and existence.
Instead of benefi ng from a social protec on against their lack of resources

and support, these more or less marginalized youth come up against a logic of
social welfare that defines them as a nuisance and a threat to public health or
security. That is how some youth in a situa on of vulnerability (family conflicts,
school dropout, mental health disorders, drug addic on, runaway, roving, being
homeless, malnutri on, etc.) not only find themselves faced with the lack of
considera on and of comfort from the adults around them, but are also subjected
International perspective by Annie Fontaine
169
to rejec on and coercion via various forms of s gma za on, discrimina on,
in mida on and li ga on from social organiza ons and public authori es.
Even though some of them submit to the expected image of a vic m or penitent
to try and match the social groups poten ally taken into care by the public or
charity ins tu ons, others try to move away from the simplis c representa ons
which are made of their situa on and get more and more marginalized to meet
their primary and secondary needs through various means of smartness. As a
consequence, while the gap is widening between their lifestyle and the culture
of the ins tu ons responsible for their supervision (housing, health care, social
services, educa on, jus ce, etc.), these marginalized youth either follow solitary
paths which increase their isola on and distress or join gangs within which they
seek the protec on and solidarity they lack in their family, the community and the
social organiza ons. And yet, even if joining a gang some mes allows the youth
to fulfil their lacks and cons tutes a temporary protec on while going through
a dicult period in their lives, other types of rela ons within the gang, on the
contrary, leads some of them to delinquency and crime (pros tu on, drugs sale,
the and concealment, vandalism, violence, etc.), which tend to make them sink
even more in a situa on of social marginaliza on.
To sum it up, the combina on of various social phenomena today increases

the risks for the youth to be faced with situa ons of uncertainty which weaken
their path through adolescence and their transi on to adulthood. Moreover,
as the accumula on of dicult situa ons o en leads to an escala on of social
disrup ons which endangers their es and basic solidarity, a growing number of
youth find themselves caught in various vulnerability processes which make their
living condi ons and their life path insecure. Restricted to a posi on in which it
becomes hardly conceivable to give meaning to their lives and to make a name for
themselves in society, several of these youth follow a path which every day moves
them further away from social norms and from the possibili es to improve their
fate within the exis ng organiza ons. From then on, these marginalized youth
risk to be more and more embroiled in a destruc ve isola on as their fragile
mental health status o en shows or are compelled to choose to join other
youth in order to recreate a shared space which is outside the rules established
by society and some mes even goes against them.
Even if they dont always have structural solu ons to the social dicul es of the
youth, street workers play an important role in the daily caring for the marginalized

170
youth as well as in the media on between them and the social organiza ons.
The intermediate posi on street workers enjoy indeed allows them to be er
understand the culture of the street youth and to establish with them a trust
rela onship which is favourable for the appropria on of resources and strategies
to increase the control they have on their living condi ons and their quality of life.
Apart from suppor ng the marginalized youth and ac ng as a bridge and

mediator between them and the social organiza ons, street workers also play
an important witness-actor role to increase public, social ins tu ons, NGOs
and public authori es awareness of everyones role in the situa on of the street
youth. Considering the impacts each of these actors have in the youth lives, the
street workers point of view should be taken into account in order to be sure that
the concerned social actors become fully aware of the way their daily a tudes
and interven on strategies can contribute to improve or, on the contrary, to
deteriorate the living condi ons of these children.
Annie Fontaine
International perspective by Annie Fontaine
171
Key findings
O The gang or group has a great level of importance in the street childs or
youths everyday life. The gang is something of a social support; it replaces
the family, the adults and authority, oers rules, structure and, above all,
a real protec on.
O 78% of the street children were part of a street based group or gang and
more than 60% agreed that being in a group is compulsory for survival on
the street. 51% said the street groups were the only real social support
they had found.
O 66% of the respondents agreed that street life in a group is enjoyable.
O A street childs role and place in a gang significantly contributes to their

iden ty forma on. Although some see their self-image in ambiguous ways:
considering themselves as dirt but also see themselves as leaders, free
individuals and as role players.
O Being in a group lead to street children being involved in ac vi es that

children would not normally do. These included taking drugs together and
being involved in sexual rela onships. One child reported, Ive done
under the influence of my friends.
O 76% of the children openly sni glue but only 1.5% get arrested for it. 19%
of the street children beg but only 1.0% of arrests are for begging. Is there
a reason why arrests focus on some ac vi es (stealing and robbery) and
not on the arguably more obvious and socially important issues?
O The police had arrested 66% of the street children, 92% of these by the
age of 15. 37% had been arrested five mes or more.
O 87% of the street children had visited Non Governmental Organiza ons
(NGOs) o en. Similarly, more than three out of four children (78%) o en
slept at a NGO. 66% reported that they regularly visit dierent NGOs. 89%
think NGOs are helping street children properly.

172
O Children claim to accept and understand the gang leaders violence and
consider it to be inherent to his func on.
O Even if the children know and admit the illegality of some of their acts;
survival and the emula on of the group open wide the door to deviant,
delinquent, not to say clearly criminal, prac ces.
O The role and rela onship that youth workers or social workers play in the
field cannot be underes mated. As a witness-actor they understand
what the children in a street situa on are going through and their roles
are key to building the bridge between the two worlds the children live in.
The gang or groups solidarity and cohesion is something of a hindrance to the

a empts of social rehabilita on of these children. Besides drugs and sex, the
group seems to bring some more posi ve values such as mutual aid and fraternity
which overcome the ethnic and caste barriers inherent to the Nepali society.
Key findings
173
The group iden ty which is shared, carried and spread by the gang is evolving
func ons of the street situa on and social exclusion its members had to go
through. However, we must state here that living on the street in Nepal is less
excluding than in a more developed country. The street is a full-fledged living
space and is a ended by many groups, including street children. Nevertheless, the
group or gang made up of street children legi mizes and allows some behaviors
the other members of society consider to be deviant.
If alone, the street child is a poten al vic m. In a group he appears to be dreaded.

Actually, since we started our ac ve observa on, we have no ced many cases of
extreme violence perpetrated in-group. In ten years of work, we have frequently
witnessed terrible transforma ons: from the scared li le boy who just ended up
in the capital city to the violent gang leader, some mes only a few years have
passed Here is what street gang means: violence, friendship, sharing, life

174
CHAPTER SIX
BELIEF, CULTURAL PRACTICES, AWARENESS

OF ONES CLASS AND NATIONAL PRIDE
CPCS
175
ARTICLE 7 & 8 (CRC) : The child shall have the
right to a name a na onality and to preserve
his or her iden ty
Street children dont have iden ty cards. Their own name, age and address
can be changed for any reason and by any authority. They dont have any
legal existence.
Chapter 6: Belief, Cultural Practices, Awareness of Ones Class and National Pride
176
Introduction
This chapter first deals with culture, religion and tradi on. What did the child
retain from his past, his family and his fathers religion? Does he s ll follow the
customs he learned?
It will then deal with the media consump on of children and youth and the kind
of clothes they like. These points may not seem crucial, but they nevertheless
reveal a part of the iden ty the child carries. Finally, we will end this chapter with
the vision the children have on na onal iden ty, social classes and globaliza on.
The observa ons and unstructured discussions we had allowed us to pa ently

tackle these dicult subjects and to be able to draw some conclusions (even if
very cau ously).

Religion / tradi on:
The majority of the street children belonged to the Hindu religion (59%) followed
by Chris anity (27%). 7% of the children believed in Buddhism while 4% of the
children reported that they are Muslims.
76% reported that their father believed in the Hindu religion followed by Buddhism
(10%). 5% of the children reported that their father is Chris an while 4% of the
children men oned their father is a Muslim.
Over a third of the children (34%) reported that they could change their religion
while the rest said their religion could not be changed.
80% of the children stated that religion is useful while 18% reported religion is
not useful.
The majority of the children (73%) conveyed that they prac ce religion regularly
while 26% men oned they do not prac ce religion regularly.
Introduction
177
%
What is your religion if any?
Hindu 58.9
Chris an 26.5
Buddhist 7.3
Muslim 4.0
No religion 3.4
What is the religion of your father?
Hindu 75.8
Chris an 5.3
Buddhist 9.6
Muslim 4.0
No religion 1.3
No response 3.9
Do you think you could change religion?
Yes 34.1
No 64.9
No response 1.0
Do you think religion is useful?
Yes 79.5
No 18.2
No response 2.3
Do you prac ce religion regularly?
Yes 72.8
No 25.5
No response 1.7
Total 100.0
178
55% of the respondents did not believe in Nepals caste system. It is encouraging
to note that the majority of the children (71%) reported they would allow a lowest
caste person inside their home while a substan al propor on of the children
(28%) reported they would not allow a lowest caste person inside their house.
The majority of the children (76%) reported that they would not eat cow meat
while 23% of the children men oned they would eat cow meat. However, about
half of the children (49%) reported that they had already eaten meat that was
not allowed by their tradi on.
%
Do you believe the caste system fair?
Yes 43.0
No 55.0
No response 2.0
Would you allow a lowest caste person inside your home?
Yes 71.2
No 27.8
No response 1.0
Would you eat cow meat?
Yes 22.8
No 76.2
No response 1.0
Have you already eaten meat not allowed by your tradi on?
Yes 49.3
No 49.7
No response 1.0
Total 100.0
179
Media consump on and habits:
Exposure to mass media, especially exposure to television is very high among
the street children. It is found that almost all children (93%) watched television
daily. About a third of the children (36%) also reported that they some mes
read the newspaper.
82% of the children like English movies, although only one in three children (35%)
reported that they actually understand English movies.
The majority of the children (82%) reported that they used to go to the movie
hall weekly. Similarly, the majority of the children (83%) also reported that they
knew Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
Exposure to the internet is low among street children, only 1 in 10 children

reported that they know how to use internet.
Over a third of the children (36%) reported that they know Pizza-hut, McDonalds or KFC.
Media Consump on and habits
Know Pizza-Hut, McDonalds

or KFC 36
Knows how to use internet 11
Knows Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee 83
Go to movie hall weekly 82
Understand english movie 35
Like english movie 82
Some mes read newspaper 36
Watch TV daily 93
0 20 40 60 80 100
% age
180
Na onal and class feelings:
Almost all the street children (93%) reported that they love being a Nepali and
86% knew the na onal song of Nepal.
Love being a Nepali ?
Yes
93% No
6%
No response
1%
Know the na onal song ?
No
13%
Yes
87%
181
52% reported that they are concerned about what happens in Nepal. On the
other hand, less than a fi h of the children reported that they are concerned
about what happens outside of Nepal.
%
Do you feel concerned by what happens in Nepal?
Yes 52.0
No 47.0
No response 1.0
Do you feel concerned by what happens outside of Nepal?
Yes 18.9
No 80.1
No response 1.0
Total 100.0
61% of the children reported that they agreed with the concept that Nepalese
working abroad are exploited most of the me. 13% of the children disagreed.
Nepalese working abroad are most

of the me exploited ?
Disagree
13%
Agree
61%
Neutral
23%
Unknown 2% No response 1%
182
Being white skinned means
being rich ?
Disagree
18%
Agree
Neutral 67%
12%
No response 2% Unknown 1%
The majority of the street children (63%) agreed that foreigners are more
intelligent than Nepalese, but 23% disagreed.
Foreigners are more

intelligent than Nepalese ?
Disagree
23%
Agree
63%
Neutral
11%
183
An overwhelming majority of the children (86%) agreed that Nepal is a nice
country. 24% of the children agreed that powerful leaders are concerned with
the poor people while half of the respondents disagreed.
It is encouraging to note that three quarters of the children believed that they
would become a rich person.
%
Nepal is a nice country?
Agree 86.4
Neutral 3.6
Disagree 8.3
No response 1.7
Powerful leaders (any) are concerned by the poor people?
Agree 23.5
Neutral 22.2
Disagree 50.3
Unknown 1.7
No response 2.3
You will become a rich person?
Agree 74.8
Neutral 9.3
Disagree 13.9
Unknown 0.3
No response 1.7
Total 100.0
It is notable that the majority of the street children (71%) agreed with the
statement that land has to be redistributed among poor people.
184
Land has to be redistributed among poor
people ?
100
80 71
60
% age
40
20 15 13
2
0
Agree Neutral Disagree No response
70% of the children disagreed with the statement that it is alright to steal to eat
or to survive. Only 19% agreed with it.
Over half of the children (55%) agreed that criminality is most of the me caused
by social injus ce. Similarly, more than half of the children believed that poor
people drink more than upper class/rich people. Further, more than half of
the respondents agreed that educa on is not available to poor people but 32%
disagreed.
185
%
It is alright to steal to eat or to survive?
Agree 18.9
Neutral 8.9
Disagree 70.2
No response 2.0
Criminality is most of the me caused by social injus ce?
Agree 55.3
Neutral 21.5
Disagree 18.9
Unknown 1.3
No response 3.0
Poor people drink more than upper class/rich people?
Agree 53.6
Neutral 10.9
Disagree 33.8
No response 1.7
Educa on is not available to poor people?
Agree 53.3
Neutral 12.9
Disagree 31.8
Unknown .3
No response 1.7
Total 100.0
186
accounts
Religion and tradi ons:
If most of the street children keep the religion of their parents, a minority of
them seem to let themselves be tempted by the ways the Chris an missionaries
(usually the evangelist ones) oer them, and above all, by their gi s (money,
food, clothes). But, even if there is s ll a place for religion, the living condi ons
in the street change his ways.
For example, a Brahman child in a street situa on will not refuse to eat water
bualo if he is hungry. There is something of a survival ins nct which develops,
and they have to adapt. Moreover, the caste and ethnic diversity the gang or
group impose prevents them from fully respec ng tradi onal rules (not sharing
ones unclean food, refusing the water brought by a lower caste, refusing to have
any physical contact with a lower caste, etc.).
When we asked them, it was hard for the children to confirm their religion (Hindu,
Buddhist or other). But it is not only the case on the street. In Nepal, religion can
be shallow. One follows ones fathers religion and ask oneself only few prac cal
ques ons. The Nepali pantheon is made up of thousands of gods, and Buddhism
and Hinduism are ge ng muddled up.
Media uses:
Children confirm that they watch television regularly, especially movies. The
Internet is li le used and newspapers are rarely read; the illiteracy of most of
the street youth must be one of the reasons for this. Another reason may be
the typical liking for blockbusters. They usually know Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan
and are divided on the dierent types of cinema. Some like Indian movies, other
Nepali movies and a third category has a passion for American movies.
As we have seen in the passage on sexuality, most of them have seen X-rated
movies despite their total ban.
It is surprising to see that, despite their life on the street, most of them confirm
they watch television every day. They stop in li le greasy shops and even go to
the cinema. Nowadays, in Kathmandu as in most of the ci es and big villages
of the country, each li le restaurant has access to the cable TV distribu on and
consequently to more than a thousand of dierent channels.
187
The access to American movies (via Star Movie, HBO, Cinemax, etc.) brings other
values, other styles and maybe a distorted opinion on the reality in the West.
Clothes:
Most children consider clothes to be very important. They usually have only
one pair of trousers and one T-shirt. They do not seem to be especially drawn
to hip-hop clothes.
The simple fact of enjoying clean clothes is already a luxury for which they yearn.
And that is understandable, especially for beggars and plas c pickers.
The beggars one can see in the tourist area usually have beau ful clothes given
by tourists, but they only wear them on specific occasions, for logical reasons:
we make more money with dirty clothes than with clean ones!
188
Nepal and the global world:
The children seem to take li le interest in what happens abroad. They have got
their daily life and that is enough.
They like to be Nepali and seem out of the loop concerning globaliza on and its
emblems: they have never heard of McDonalds, which is an uncommon thing
in this world. Even if they know Coca-Cola, very few of them know that it is an
American drink.
They are drawn to the world, or they find it intriguing, but their concern is more
to become rich than anything else. They do not bear a grudge against white
people, on the contrary they think they are clever.
For the children, each white person is rich, American, and most likely clever.
That is the way it is
Social classes:
Our observa ons and discussions with the children leave us wondering about their
understanding of the social classes. The child usually only thinks in a binary way
rich and poor people which is based on whether one owns land, a motorbike
and beau ful clothes, or not (mainly external signs of wealth).
They are unaware of the middle class concept or idea, which may even be
totally unknown.
However, they dont feel any anger with the rich and powerful people, but
rather a kind of resigna on, a fatalism. Even if many of them talk elatedly about
the idea of a redistribu on of the lands or about the legi mate right to steal in
order to eat, the sense of exploita on doesnt seem to prevail. Becoming rich
on the street and by their own means is also a declared aspira on (we will come
back to it in chapter 7 on the educa onal and future perspec ves).
189
Dinesh (14 years):

My birthplace is Chautara. Ive been living on the street for 3 years and I work
as a beggar. Im Hindu because my father is also Hindu but I went many mes to
the Chris an church with my friends. I prefer to stay in Kathmandu rather than
in my village because there is a cinema and we can watch television. I can read
but Im not interested in reading newspapers or books. I like being fashionable.
Nobody can recognize us when we are dressed up and nobody can tell us what
to do. I dont care about the countrys situa on, but Ive been involved in riots
and poli cal demonstra ons many mes. I like to smash cars, buses or big
houses windows.
I like Nepal very much, but I dont know how the na onal anthem goes.
Deepak (15 years):

My home is in Nuwakot. I dont like to be dominated nor considered to be dierent
from the other common boys. That is why I spend all my money on new clothes.
I dont care about religion, but I like to celebrate religious fes vals. Im also
interested in football and music. The caste system is very bad in our society. Here
are the reasons why I dont go back to my village. First, in the city, nobody sees
me as a lower caste person. Second, my parents are s ll dominated by society.
I like watching ac on movies and Nepali films. I frequently go to the cinema to
watch a movie. Who cares about whats going on in the country? I just want to
have a job and earn money.
Subash:
Im 14 years old and Im from Pokhara. Ive been living on the street for five years.
I have no idea what my fathers religion is. However, I became Chris an. I go to
the church every Sunday. They give us many things we need. I feel happy here.
I dont like the discrimina on induced by the caste system. I dont care about
castes. Whatever their caste, people would be welcome in my house. I love the
Christmas celebra on. I also like watching English movies even though I dont
understand them, but I dont like reading newspapers. I really like wearing hip-
hop clothes.
190
Shanker (15 years):
Ive been living on the street for 2 years. Im from Pokhara. My father is Hindu,
but I am a Chris an. I go to the church from me to me. I dont like the caste
system. It is very dicult to enter higher caste persons home. I like Christmas,
but I also celebrate the Dashain and the Tihar. Im also interested in wearing good
clothes and in ea ng good food. I only watch Bruce Lee movies, or other Kung Fu
films, even if I dont understand the language. I collect newspapers, not in order
to read them, but well to sell them. I really like to wear fashionable clothes, but
not in the hip-hop style.
Arjun (14 years):

Ive been on the street for 3 years. I come from Hetauda. My parents are Hindu,
and so am I. I some mes visit the temple, but I dont go there to worship but
to collect money. The temple is a nice place to collect money by begging. If we
beg in other places, people dont give us money, but that is not the case in the
temple. It is true that the caste system in our country is not nice. Personally, I
dont care entering the house of a lower caste person. Most of my friends are
from a lower caste, but we share everything with each other. I watch television in
the junkyard and I like going to the cinema. I like Nepali movies, not the English
or Hindi ones. English movies are vulgar. I some mes read the newspapers but
I prefer to just look at the pictures instead of reading. I like to wear hip-hop
clothes and to celebrate the Dashain and the Tihar. I dont know anything about
the Internet but I like to play video games on a computer.
Prem (16 years):

We were 9 in our family. Due to the lack of food, I came to Kathmandu 4 years ago.
We had a church in our village. They supported me through school up to grade
5. Here, I also go to the church. I like the Chris anity. There are prayers every
Saturday and they distribute food. I went to dierent churches, in Khasibazar,
Dhungeadda, Kalanki and Sitaipala. Some mes, the churchs sta come and take
us. I trust in my religion and in God. My family is also Chris an.
Nabin:
I come from Katari Tin Lal Village. Ive been on the street for 10-11 months. First,
I stayed in the old Bus Park, in Chabahil, the Pashupa area and the Bouddha
area. Now, Im staying in Putalisadhak. As my house is in a rural area, there are
s ll some bad tradi ons, such as the caste problem. In our village, the majority
191
of the people are Brahmin and Chhetri, so they treat us badly, as well as other
lower caste people. They dont let us in the temple and that is not a good thing,
but they do it all the me. I dont like it. I worship all the gods of all the religions.
I go to the Pashupa area to worship and also to collect money. Ive also been
to a church. I can earn 200-300 rupees a day by begging.
Jeevan (12 years):

Ive been living on the street since I was eight. I come from Banepa, Kavre. My
father is Hindu he worships Ganesh Bhawan. I some mes visit the Pashupa ,
Boudanath and Bhaktapur temples, but I dont go there to worship but to collect
money. I like those places because I earn a lot of money there. I believe in the
Chris an religion. Every Friday, I go to the church and pray. I dont believe in the
caste system. My family and I are living on the street. I have many friends, and
some of them are from a lower caste. I stay and eat with them. I watch Nepali,
English and Hindi movies. Every Saturday, we go to the cinema. I like watching
television, but I dont like listening to the radio. I once tried to read a newspaper,
but I fell asleep, so I never read newspapers. I like having new clothes.
192
By Deepak Raj Sapkota
Country Director-Karuna Founda on (Nepal)
Street children
IN GENERAL:
While roaming the streets of Kathmandu where there is the biggest concentra on
of tourists, one can easily come face to face with the reality of children living in
the streets. Most of the me, the situa on one encounters is wretched. They
are either sning glue or using drugs and alcohol, sleeping in mass and most
importantly, figh ng. Sex, drugs, alcohol and money ma er a lot in their world
too. People o en use the phrase: children are the future but I believe strongly
that they are the present too, in which case these children reflects the face
of todays Nepal. The freedom experienced here is considerable. They talk of
rebellion, acts of revolu on and they challenge everything that comes to them.
They are free birds with their own free will but without any des na on, without
any informa on that will help them understand the joy of life.
In 2007, I was asked by CPCS to share my views on Journey to the Street for the
research book the Street Children of Kathmandu. I am pleased to put forward my
views once again on the topic tradi on, culture, iden ty, Media, class feeling and
globaliza on. It is quite challenging to write on this subject especially at a me
when the Associa on for Child Rights Educa on within Academic se ng in Nepal
for South Asian professionals and prac oners has been inaugurated. It is quite
remarkable how academic people consider childrens issues while nego a ng
with University people on star ng the CR educa on as an academic program.
For many of the street children, child protec on or girls tracking is a ma er
delt with in a one hour speech! They do not view it as a serious issue that could
be formed as an academic subject ma er in its own right.
Since the issues of street children is emerging as a Socio-Economic problem which

is impac ng on society at large, the issue is now global and can be felt in all urban
se ngs. From Rio to Kathmandu, Johannesburg to Melbourne, the magnitude
is very strong. Some focused programs and schemes cannot address the issue
National perspective by Deepak Raj Sapkota
193
as it is deeply rooted with modern day lifestyle and increases gaps between
people. It is a poli cal, social and economic issue and specific strategies should
be formed to solve the issue.
BACKGROUND:
Nepals Street Children have been present since 1964/65 and Nepals Children
Organiza on Board (popularly known as Bal Mandir) set up a facility to help them
in the same year. There were many eorts undertaken from then on in order to
combat the issues in this area . Nevertheless, the phenomenon is ge ng more
complex and it seems that we have accepted it as one of the reali es of our
society. It only aects us when we meet the street children and the feeling is
gone within a few seconds. When we are going to a restaurant with our family we
meet them. We even come across them face to face when we a end mee ngs
to provide the best opportuni es to children and their families. We meet them
in our professional and personal lives but does it make any dierences to us?
SUBJECT MATTER:
I was asked to comment on a very important but also quite a vague topic: tradi on,
culture, iden ty, Media, class feeling and globaliza on. I was thinking about the
dierent angles on the presenta on of my feelings and also of my experiences,
which was really a challenge. It was provoking and also confron ng for me. The
survey asks many ques ons to the children and based on these ques ons I am
trying to formulate my opinions here which I hope will sa sfy the interest of the
survey (or research).
For me these ques ons are irrelevant. Those who are not inside the so called
normal frame of the society why should they bother with all those issues?
Why should they have to follow all of them? They do not need to be on the same
side of society. Society always has blamed them and it has labeled them all the
me as the unwanted group. This phenomenon indicates clearly what should
be the response from them on this subject ma er. But anyway, let me put my
opinion very briefly on the topic as well.
Most of the street children of Kathmandu are from outside the Kathmandu
valley. They must be following some short of faith during their me with their
families and communi es and it must have been printed in their mind in an
unforge able manner as I am carrying my childhood from the countryside in
194
Nepal in a very pleasant way. Unfortunately, they are not lucky like me to explore
the opportuni es of life which might compel them to be rebellious, resul ng
them to challenge the faith they were prac cing or ge ng into something new.
If the rest of the society or their community doesnt consider them worthy why
should they need to follow the footsteps of the same society? What is there
for them? It is like an untouchable Hindu, who always believes and follows the
religion that even prohibits him to pay a visit to the dei es. Prac cing religion
or anything else in life must be relevant to ones day to day living. If it makes life
more complicated than facilita ng it, who will adhere?
The same applies to the caste system, it discriminates and dishonours people.
These children have le everything for their freedom (in many cases not knowing
what the consequences would be) so I do not believe that they have any respect
for it. Food and daily prac ces are important to them but not as a systema c
way of thinking.
Iden ty has double meanings for me: integrity of self as a person, and the iden ty
given by the na on. Both these iden es are not respected for these children, to
my understanding. It is very much related to Media as well. How media presents
them is always nega ve and they are depicted as antagonis c. They are not valued
as human beings in the news. Rather, the repor ng is harsh and contains many
nega ve connota ons.
One unsolved issue for me is the concentra on of these children in nearby tourist
areas! Are there any special reasons for this concentra on? Yes, Europeans and
North Americans are found to be more sympathe c towards these children and
they o en give them money. Even a dollar is a decent amount of money here
which generally answers the ques on. The freedom enjoyed by tourists, their
dierent styles and behavior towards them, the wealth and most importantly
the depic on of white people as super special human beings contributes to them
congrega ng in these areas. But there are illegal things happening as well. The
child sex tourism industry and pedophilia cases are increasing significantly. There
are regular reports in the media and cases are being filed at police sta ons more
frequently. I strongly recommend carrying out a very well planned and organized
survey to iden fy the reasons behind the concentra on of street children in
tourist places.
Deepak Raj Sapkota
National perspective by Deepak Raj Sapkota
195
By Pradeep Acharya
Lecturer-Tribhuvan University (Nepal)
Tradition/Culture, National Identity, Media, Class

Feelings and Globalization
[kasto khate jasto (what a street children like person)]
The statement is a very common u erance among us to express a kind of disgust

toward some people. It is the reflec on of how we have learned to understand
the street children in our everyday life. Despite being a bad and unjust expression,
it may be quite obvious, for us who are not in the street, as they look dirty and
disorganized. Personally, when I encounter a child in the street, with a dirty
outlook, begging for money, mostly small boys and few girls too, what I usually
do is to just ignore them by turning my eyes away and some mes I do drop some
coins so as to get rid of them for a moment.
Besides the basic needs of survival, the most important one they are deprived of is
the family, which is supposed to provide them not only the basic needs but also the
socializa on and overall personality development. As a result, their socializa on
is severely hindered, resul ng in what we see as a faulty socializa on. The most
crucial part of the primary socializa on process, in which the internaliza on of
norms and values of society occurs, is held back. Given the circumstances, one
obviously falls in to a kind of iden ty crisis.
Poverty and conflict in the villages of Nepal may be taken as one of the causes for
children to come to the street of Kathmandu. Urbaniza on, the dense popula on
of the capital is also a home for children in the street where they can ask for
money from a large number of people. Moreover, the increased garbage stock
has become a source of income for them by rag picking and finding le over food
and other stu.
The capital city is also known as the city of temples. It is full of many temples,
monasteries and churches where the children are seen to have access to free food
oerings. These are the places where they reside. Besides, other public places
196
like open spaces in the street and buildings in this concrete park are valuable
for them. They eat, drink, sleep, bath, watch TV and even earn in such places.
Street children are seen wandering and working around some tourist sites of
Kathmandu. It is the places where they can earn a bigger amount of money than
in other places for a variety of jobs. Street children, a new socially excluded class,
are hated, poor and vic ms of social injus ce. They are like untouchables who
are not allowed to travel in public transport, enter in clean and dy places, and
have become freely visible in the streets. Dierent media report their involvement
in poli cal riots and vandalism.
Pradeep Acharya
National perspective by Pradeep Acharya
197
By Jean-Robert Chry
Scol. PH.D, Universit de Montral; Psychopdagogie et Andragogie (Hai )
The panic attacks among Haitian children

Most of Hai an children have been psychologically aected by the disaster created
by the earthquake on the 12th of January 2010. Since the event, anyone who
was already weakened by his own social condi on got locked in a mental and
physical pain. This confinement has several causes.
First of all, his cogni on was already, before the 12th of January, condi oned by a set
of social phobias (for example the werewolves, the beard uncles). The disaster has,
among others, resulted in a panic a ack on the child. At the same me, it disturbed
his system of informa on processing.
Regarding the disaster, the panic a ack was followed by anxious reac ons, caused
by limited and specific stimulus: the numerous aftershocks, the house rubbles,
the reac ons of close acquaintances, the social phobias and the magico-religious
representa ons of the society.
How can we describe a panic a ack on children?

According to behaviorists, this panic a ack can be described as an answer, which is at
the same me physiological, psychological as well as behavioral and which started when
the disaster of the 12th of January 2010 occurred. It is linked to the ac va on of the
autonomous nervous system and of the noradrenergic central structures of the child.
In this perspec ve, it would be relevant to conduct a func onal analysis of the elements
organizing the panic a ack on children a er the 12th of January 2010. We counted
5 elements:
1. S mulus
2. Emo on
3. Cogni on
4. Behaviors
5. An cipa on
198
Watson (1920) considers that anxiety is an answer learnt during a trauma c
experience where a neutral s mulus (unconscious s mulus linked to a previous
experience) is associated to an uncondi onal aversive s mulus (in this case an
earthquake).
The neutral s mulus then becomes a signal, stored in the long-term memory,
announcing a return of the aversive event, even though this one disappeared a
long me ago and is non-opera ng in the reality.
The neutral s mulus becomes an anguish signal and will create the emo onal
answer when there is no uncondi onal s mulus. Those are the symptoms of
post-trauma c stress.
Thus, experiments brought to the Popular Educa on Centre with street children
apparently shocked by the earthquake, show that emo onal shocks rarely are
the result of the phenomenon itself.
In most of cases, children said they were afraid by the rustles of the evils (neutral
s mulus) associated to an uncondi onal aversive s mulus (the earthquake).
Therefore, the neutral s mulus can be an element of the system of Hai an cultural
phobias (for example werewolves, ghosts, zombies etc).
Based on this predicate, we will follow the proposi on of Seligman (1971) who
presented a division of phobias in two classes in the case of a panic a ack:
1. The prepared phobias whose learning occurred based on gene c pre-

disposi ons. Those are phobias linked to behaviors having a func onal
value to ensure the survival of the species (avoid animals, unknown places,
avoid loneliness, avoid darkness etc)
2. The non-prepared phobias linked to situations, that had so far never
threatened the pre-technological human being (bus, weapons, cars).
In the case of Hai an children, it seems that the cultural phobias are those playing
an important role in the panic a acks a er the disaster (the werewolves, the
beard uncles etc). Those phobias are dierent from prepared and non-prepared
phobias. Therefore, we can conclude that there is a third class of phobias: the
cultural phobias.
International perspective by Jean-Robert Chry

199
Keeping this perspec ve in mind, the cogni ve approach, in a certain way, helps
us to understand the mediator role of thoughts, imagina ons and mental images,
allowing the child to adapt to internal and external s muli.
Therefore, the cogni ve system does not represent a cause of anxiety in itself in
the situa on of a panic a ack but a mechanism of informa on processing. When
there is a dysfunc on, it may result in an interac on between the innate biological
vulnerability, the individual history and the actual s muli ac ons suscep ble to
create stress reac ons.
Studies on cogni ons lie on the postulate that anxiety is associated to a bias in
the way to process the informa on concerning the earthquake of the 12th of
January 2010.
This bias cons tuted in a scheme of danger. This scheme would be ac vated in
certain condi ons and could have been acquired during premature experiences
(Co raux 1986b)
Finally, the brain of the Hai an child treats the events of the 12th of January 2010
according to schemes stocked in his long-term memory. Therefore, those schemes
are unconscious. They select, filter and interpret the informa on according to
the mental images concerning the danger and result in a narrow view of the
childs world.
Jean Robert Chry
200
By Sylvain Fillion
Director-Team-Monde (Peru)
When children transcend their own culture

How could a culture of children and youth living in a street context since several
genera ons s ll transform?
The conflict that opposed the Shining Paths funded by Abimal Guzman and the
Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru (MRTA) to the Peruvian State in the
80s and 90s le important scars in the country. From 1980 to 1999, the violence
occured not only in the peruvian countryside but also in several areas of Lima
through massacres, abduc ons, and a social state of insecurity resul ng in a
massive exodus from rural areas of the country to the capital city. The exodus,
combined to the presidence of Garcia in the 80s, to the Fujimorist poli c as
early as 1990, as well as to the neoliberal poli cs became decisive factors for the
urban crisis developing in Lima. Since then, the capital could not answer to the
important migratory flow, to those uprooted popula ons, to those children and
young orphans coming along with an uncle or one of their grandparent or even on
their own by bus. The economical situa on is serious, the infla on rate amazingly
high and the social and sanitary condi ons in the slums pathe c because of the
impossibility of the capital city to build structures that could welcome so many
persons in such a short period of me. The phenomenon of street children then
became a reality in Peru.
A child called Pe so will, through his death, give new breath to this bruised
and abandoned childhood in Peru. The child died, electrocuted, in an electric
booth in one of the most beau ful parks of Lima (Plaza San Mar n). As early as
1992, the local authori es became aware of this new phenomenon and some
resources were implemented to deal with this new reality. During this period, a
large number of youth met in the street. They used to come from the surrounding
rural areas (Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Hunuco, etc.) and from poor or even very
poor socio-economical condi ons (areas along the Andes). But many used to
come from the slums encircling Lima too. At this me, children and youth of all
International perspective by Sylvain Fillion
201
ages living in extreme poverty as well as total abandonment were occupying
parks and streets of dierent areas of central Lima. Therefore they were living
on the edge of the society.
Those are young children, teenagers and some adults living by themselves in the
streets. The space they are living in does not take the same dimensions for all
of them! Whether you are a boy or a girl, a child or a teenager, becoming safe
in this context becomes not only a challenge in itself but a struggle with each
instance. It is the daily ac vi es they undertake that determine their belonging
to this par cular environment and define the new boundaries of their way of life.
This is a totallly dierent culture, a parallel world exis ng for the most helpless,
where the rules are only arbitrary and submi ed to the strength of each individual
as well as to their personal contacts. Dierent causes are raised regarding the
reason of their arrival in the streets: the violence, the rejec ons, all forms of
abuses, and the poverty. All those factors push them to take shelter in this new
environment that we call the street.
Regarding their health, illnesses are frequent. All types of skin infec ons and
wounds, caused by fights, tubercolisis and HIV, are unfortunatly a part of the daily
reality. Due to their age and living condi ons, the culture of those children and
youth is so par cular that it remains itself a real mystery. However, this culture
is at the same me of remarkable greatness. We can only be in admira on in
front of those children and youth who succeed despite their living condi ons
and their age to take care of their most basic needs. They have got resilience in
its purest form. During this period of me, boys came to those spaces as early
as the age of 9 and girls at the age of 14 (this is an average).
Despite their age and their vulnerability, they are big builders of the future. If
they are allowed to keep faith in the future, everything can appear as possible,
at their level.
We know that the street culture of Lima was characterized by children and youth,
who, to iden fy to this under-culture had to supply to their needs as beggars,
stealing and ge ng involved in all sorts of criminal ac vi es except laboring.
To be one of them, the newcomers had to adopt behaviors specific to their
environment. Thus, they had to respect its codes to get organized and be part
of it. Children and young workers were busy with other occupa ons (informal
202
labor). They had contacts and ac vi es with them, but in a very sporadic way.
It was more a ques on of mee ngs between individuals rather than between
formal speaking groups. It was the same situa on with pandileros (street gangs)
or with barras bravs (groups associated to the dierent soccer teams in Peru).
It is the street that is the immediate environment of those children and youth who
ended up here because they had nothing else. As M. Parazelli quotes there are no
social links without places, neither there are places without symbolic imprin ng
(2). The street is filled with symbols and each child is himself a world to discover.
References:
(1) Fillion Sylvain, Para ellos, una Quinta Estacion, INPPARES-CUSO-Qubec-

Terre des Hommes, 1999
(2) Parazelli Michel, La rue a rac ve, parcours et pra ques iden taires des
jeunes de la rue, 2002, avant-propos.
Sylvain Fillion
International perspective by Sylvain Fillion
203
Key findings
O As for tradi ons and religion, the main point is that they s ll persist, even
in a street context, but that they, like all things in the street situa on, are
flexible and adaptable. The child s ll shows some respect for what he
received from his parents and keeps in touch with religion, the la er being
everywhere in the Nepali social life.
O 73% of the street children conveyed that they prac ced religion regularly.
O Over a third of the children (34%) reported that they could change religion.
O 55% of the respondents did not believe in Nepals caste system. It is

encouraging to note that the majority of the children (71%) reported they
would allow a lowest caste person inside their home and as reported
earlier, 63% would marry a lower caste than their own.
O 49% reported that they had already eaten meat that was not allowed by
their tradi on but 76% reported that they would not eat cow meat.
O Television and going to the movie hall seem to be extremely popular

past- mes for street children, but only 11% know how to use the internet.
Heroes and figh ng stories are popular.
O A street child lives a somewhat oral tradi on; there are very few wri en
texts. He does not, or hardly reads.
O Children, such as youth, seem to be li le concerned about world aairs,

and even about the poli cal or economic aairs within their own country.
Besides, since they are undocumented, most of them dont have any ocial
iden ty.
O And yet, as far as na onalism is concerned, the child or youth is s ll proud

of being a Nepali, even if going abroad would be temp ng should he have
the opportunity. Patrio sm is extremely high with 93% of the respondents
who love being a Nepali and 86% who think Nepal is a nice country and
know the na onal anthem. On the other hand, just over half feel concerned
about what happens in Nepal. Even less (19%) care about what happens
globally.
204
O Many children changed their iden ty, because of the caste system or to
flee either their family or the authori es. Let us not forget that in Nepal,
the caste is men oned in somebodys last name. Isolated on the street, it
is temp ng for the child to change his social posi on.
O Except for Coca-Cola, wrestling and Bruce Lee, the globaliza on symbols
(McDonalds, Pizza Hut) remain unknown. Nepal already seems as if at
the periphery of the world, not excluded but a li le outside, on the fringes
of it. This means that the children we talk about here are at the periphery
of the periphery of the world That goes to show how little they are
concerned about the global culture.
O There are strong percep ons that being white equates to being richer
and smarter than the Nepalese. 54% believe the poor drink more than the
rich. Having said that, 75% believe that they will become rich.
O It should be noted that the children in a street situa on are completely

unaware of the status or of the existence of a middle class (admi edly
li le are present in Nepal). The child understands the classes as a binary
(poor/rich) system.
O Social injus ce is a common theme. Only 23% believe those with power are
concerned with the poor and 53% believe that educa on is not available
to the poor. 55% believe that social injus ce is the root of criminality. 71%
want to see land redistributed to poor people.
O Acharya refers to street children suering from an iden ty crisis by not

being part of the normal society and what they learn in the street as
faulty socializa on. Arguably this, as well as the many points above, has
helped shape the childrens overall iden ty.
O The flexibility to iden ty can also be seen in reports that many children
have taken up Chris anity. As new (to Nepal) churches a ract the poor,
hungry, low castes to their flock, one needs to be careful to consider that
the street children really convert to Chris anity or rather use it as a
means to an end to gather food, shelter and/or support as required.
Key findings
205
CHAPTER SEVEN
EDUCATION, FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, DREAMS

AND CONVICTIONS
CPCS
ARTICLE 28 & 29 (CRC) : State Signatories must
recognize the right of the child to educa on
(that develops) the childs personality, talents and
mental and physical abili es
Street children are deprived of basic educa on. They dont have access to
schooling to develop their skills properly.
Chapter 7: Education, Future Perspectives, Dreams and Convictions

208
Introduction
We will end this study (before making a start on the specific case of Thamel)
with the educa on, dreams and future perspec ve of these children and youth
whose daily life and home come down to the street.
They are far away from school and from the training centers, they live on the
street and learn to survive instead of learning to read and count. Talking about
the future with them is not easy. They live one day at a me and are not used
to envision a future or to make any plans.
Of course, they are first children and a certain carefreeness is normal, but added
to the no on of survival which the child experiences every day which is
somewhat paradoxical it seems to reinforce his inability to imagine any future
and to talk about it calmly.
Educa on not only plays a key role in the development of the childs iden ty, and
in his construc ve involvement in society, it is also one of the main alterna ves
to the situa ons of exploita on and violence, and thus to the street. What is of
interest here is to understand who is this child in a street situa on we claim to
support. The aim of this point on educa on would then be to try and understand
his link with the educa onal system.
If he is excluded (in any way from school) is it really his choice? Many studies put
forward the exclusion from access to school as an important reason for the
arrival of children in the streets of Nepal. However, some children, even if their
family supports them, choose to leave their village. The future perspec ves, the
educa on or training the big ci es oer, especially Kathmandu, a ract them. In
such contexts, the access to school in remote areas has to be a priority.
As for the children who live on the street, are they interested in learning to read
and write? Do they have access to educa onal services? Could they undergo
Introduction
209
basic literacy tui on via the street actors interven ons? Educa on is an almost
essen al means of reintegra ng street children within society because it also
gives them socializa on perspec ves which will allow them to understand why
they have to follow some rules to live in society; what are manners, ci zen
responsibili es and individual rights; and the importance of the family. When
they are integrated into a classroom, a small community, children get the urge
to take care of their appearance, hygiene, to be methodical and clean. Beyond
the knowledge they acquire, they learn to live in society. In Nepal, more and
more governmental measures are taken to promote the right to educa on, more
par cularly to promote and universalize access to free primary educa on for
each child.
When a child ends up on the street, it is important to know whether he has

already been to school or not, whether he has already got a basic educa on or
whether he is illiterate. Some children run o, others come to the street because
they have never known any school supervision. If they have never been to school,
it is important to know why. Is it for financial reasons? For school reten on?

210
Educa on background
More than one in seven children (15%) have never been to school. This sta s c
seems to be consistent across all age categories. Further, only 9% of the children
have completed primary level educa on (grade 6 or above).
Looking deeper into the sta s cs, 40 to 50% of the street children aged between
13 and 16 years old stayed in school un l grades 3 to 5. In comparison, only 14 to
30% of the children aged 10 to 12 stayed in school through these grades. Rever ng
back to the original trend, 41% of 9 year olds have completed grade 4 or 5.
Completed class
25
20 18 19
17
15
15 13
10
% age
10
5 4
2 2 1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Never been to school
More than three in five children men oned that they could read (61%) and write
(65%). With the excep on of 10 year olds, over 50% of the street children 9
years or older can read. Only 21% of 10 year old street children can read. These
sta s cs are also reflected in a street childs ability to write.
211
Able to read
No response
2%
No Yes
36% 62%

212
Able to write
No response
2%
No
33%
Yes
65%
Children reported many reasons for discon nuing school. For instance, more than
one in four children (28%) reported the reason for discon nuing school was no
desire to study. Similarly, one out of four children reported that the reason for
leaving school was financial. The other commonly men oned reason for leaving
school was violence (14%).
Looking at specific varia ons for the 10 to 12 year old cohort, 43% of 10 year
old reported that they did not want to study; 35% of 11 year old le for financial
reasons; and 24% of 12 year old le for reasons around violence.
213
Reason for leaving / not going to school
Parents demand 2
To work 3
Violence 14
Financial reason 25
Others 18
No response 10
Dont want to study 28
0 10 20 30
% age
Overall, a high majority of the children (74%) reported that they follow educa onal
classes given by NGOs. The street youth (16 to 18 year old) registered around
60%. 51% stated that they would like to go back to school. Only 18% of 18
year old said they would like to return to school. Similarly, a high majority of
the children (82%) men oned that they would like to learn a skill or to follow a
training. For the 17 and 18 year old respondents, over 90% would like to learn
a skill or be in training.

214
%
Do you follow educa on classes given by NGOs?
Yes 73.5
No 24.8
No response 1.7
Would you like to go back to school?
Yes 51.0
No 34.1
No response 14.9
Would you like to learn a skill or to follow a training?
Yes 82.1
No 16.2
No response 1.7
Total 100.0
Future perspec ves

This study explored future perspec ves of the children. More than one in four
street children would like to become a driver (26%). 16% of the street children
reported that they just wanted to be a good person. Almost one in ten children
(mostly 11 to 14 year old) reported that they would like to become a doctor and
8% wanted to join the Army or police. Other replies were that children wanted
to become a job holder (5%); technician (5%); pilot (4%); hotel worker (3%);
business person (3%); or teacher (3%).
215
Want to become in future
Dont know 7
Police 9
Don 2
Teacher 3
Technician 5
Job holder 5
Business 3
Army 8
Doctor 9
Hotel worker 3
Good man 16
Pilot 4
Driver 26
0 10 20 30
% age
More than half of the children would prefer to live in Kathmandu. About two in
five children (38%) reported that they prefer to live in a village while about one
in ten children reported that they prefer to live abroad.

216
Over three in five children (63%) men oned that they have a bright future while
36% reported they do not see their bright future. We note that the 15 to 18 year
old group recorded lower percentages, but s ll over 50% believed they had a
bright future.
Almost all children (92%) wanted to have a child in the future. Only, 7% of the
children reported that they do not want children at all.
%
Would you prefer to live in your village, in Kathmandu or abroad?
Village 37.7
Kathmandu/city 52.3
Abroad 9.9
Do you think you have a bright future?
Yes 62.9
No 36.1
Do not know 0.3
No response 0.7
Do you want children?
Yes 92.4
No 6.6
Do not know 0.3
No response 0.7
Total 100.0
67% of the respondents reported that they wanted to work abroad. Similarly,
about three in four street children (73%) opined that going to America would be
the best opportunity of their life. Markedly more 14 and 15 year old answered
yes for both ques ons.
217
Do you want to work abroad?
No
32%
Yes
66%
Going to America would be the

best opportunity of your life
No
24% Yes
72%

218
accounts
If some of them dream of becoming a doctor or something like that, most of them
are really pessimis c about their situa on. Pessimis c or objec ve? Anyway, very
few of them envision a brilliant future and a good job.
Despite their situa on and daily dicul es, they remain rela vely carefree and
the future is not a priority. They see their life one day at a me and are rather
surprised when we ask them about their urges, their future adult life.
Some of them are really nega ve and claim that their life wont last very long.
They have already seen many of their peers pass away and consider this extreme
to be almost logical. That is something terrifying to hear.
The liking for the city and even for the street remains important, many of them
plan to spend their whole life on the street and confirm they dont search for
any other solu on.
Of course, the urge to become rich is present, but rather as an una ainable
dream which thus doesnt require too great an eort.
Subash Rai:
Im Subash Rai from Okhaldhunga. Im 11 years old. Ive been living on the street
in Bouddhanath, Kathmandu, for 2-3 years. When I s ll lived with my parents, I
went to school un l grade two. My parents were bea ng me daily so I couldnt do
my homework, neither could I study well. Thus, I got frustrated and I didnt want
to go to school anymore. While going to school, I always saw some boys living on
the street, sning air from a plas c bag. I was curious about it and, one day, I got
the chance to try it. Now, Im addicted to it and I dont want to go back home.
Bimal Magar (14 years old):

In my village, I studied un l grade 2 in a government school. One day, my parents
came to Kathmandu with me to search for a job. Here, they started to work as
labors and I was le alone at home. At first, I frequently asked my parents to go
to school, but I didnt get access. Thus, being alone and free, I started to stay
219
with street children and other friends who didnt go to school. Slowly, I started
smoking cigare es and sning glue with friends, leaving home at night and
sleeping on the street with my friends. Now, I dont think about the future. I
dont want to go to school anymore.
Suman:
Ive been living on the street in the Bouddhanath area with my friends for 3-4
years. My parents are living in Jorpa . I went to the Samata School un l grade
two. We went swimming during lunch break. One day, I lost my school bag while
swimming. When I went home, my mother told my father Id lost my school bag with
my books and he ba ered me and kicked me out. He said: You can go anywhere,
but dont come back home again. My father o en ba ered me but that me he
ba ered me very hard. Ive got three sisters and one brother at home. My father
scolds and ba ers them too. That is why I started living on the street. Due to my
fathers tough behavior, now my brother is also on the street, with me. We enjoy
street life. Some people scold and ba er us, but that is our fault. We openly live
on the street, blow dendrite, smoke cigare es, make noise, etc. If I had to choose
between street life and my family, I would definitely choose street life, because I
enjoy and love it.
Deepak:
Ive been on the street for 5-6 years, maybe. At current me, Im staying in the
Bagbazar area with my friends. We moved to Kathmandu from Sindhuli six years
ago to search for a job. My father started running a street hotel. He spends all the
money he earns on alcohol. I wanted to go to school, but my parents couldnt aord
the cost, so I never went. 4-5 years ago, my mother stole a mobile phone, a camera
and seven thousand rupees from our neighbor room. They all came to our room
with the police. They found the mobile and the camera in our room and took it. My
mother ba ered me and asked why I stole it, in front of the police and the public.
Everybody trusted my mother and I was taken to the police sta on. Now, I dont have
a family anymore: my father always drinks alcohol and ba ers me; and my mother
betrayed me, sending me to the police sta on and blaming me for a the she did.
Thus, I started living on the street. Why would I go back home? For whom should
I? Im happy to be on the street, I can earn money and I enjoy my street life.
Diwakar (15 years old):

My mother got married to another man and my father le home. I was alone
with my older brother nobody took care of us. My grandfather, grandmother

220
and maternal uncle thus took us in. I studied un l grade three. One day, my
elder brother did a small mistake, which I wasnt aware of, but I know that he
got severely ba ered by my maternal uncle. Then, he didnt want to stay there,
so we le the house. A er leaving, we first lived together, but then we slowly
went our separated ways on the street. I also stopped my studies.
I want to con nue studying, but I cant because of the street habit and also
because I stopped a long me ago. It is dicult to change my habits to start
studying again. I dont go to school and I find it dicult to study. How could I? It
is too late. I stopped 7 years ago.
Ive no idea what my future would be like. Anyway, Ill live one day at a me.
I wish to become a money collector in a bus (khalasi). It is the best I could do,
since I stopped my studies and dont speak English. How could I get another job?
Soma (16 years):

Im from Dolakha and Ive been living on the street for eight years. I some mes
work as a rag picker or a khalasi, or else I beg.
I prefer to stay in Kathmandu rather than in my village. I want to become a

mechanic. Im very confused about my future. I want to earn money, but I dont
want to go abroad.
I cannot leave the street because of my friends. My friends are my life.
Bishal (12 years):

Im from Kothang and Ive been living on the street for five years. I want to
become a good man and to study, but Im not strong enough to take this step,
this decision. There is a lot of joy on the street there is freedom and money. Im
very op mis c for my future I want to become a shopkeeper.
If I cant manage this in Nepal, then I will go abroad and make a good life. I see
many people coming back from abroad and they are earning a lot of money,
ge ng married and having a good life.
Rabi (18 years):

I dont know where my hometown is and I enjoy Kathmandu a lot. I only know
the Pashupa area because Ive been here for a long me. I think that I s ll have
221
me to become a good man. My dream is to become a driver, although I dont
know how to fulfill my dreams. I dont want to leave Kathmandu, whatever the
purpose. Everything I need is here: money, friends and freedom. I feel happier
when Im with my street friends.
Bishal (16 years):

Im from Ramechhap. Ive been living on the street for three years. I work as a
beggar and as a khalasi. I dont like my village and Im much happier in Kathmandu.
My goal is to become a rich person, but I dont know how to manage to do it. I
think that money is everything in life. That is why I must earn money, at any cost,
and become rich. The street is the best place to earn money: there are lots of
ways to get it and that is why I dont want to leave the street.
Saroj Ale M:
Im a 14-year-old boy from Palung. Ive been living on the street for 4 years. I
much more enjoy staying in Kathmandu rather than in my village. I have no idea
what my future would be about, but I hope to become a good man. I want to
become a driver. Going abroad is the best way to earn money and to become
a good person.
I hear lots of news from abroad. I want to leave the street, but I cannot control
my feelings. I have a lot of friends on the street and they all are very coopera ve
and helpful. We love each other very much and street life is really enjoyable.

222
By Kshi j Raj Prasai
Educa on Coordinator-United Mission to Nepal (Nepal)
Issues of education of street children in Nepal

Ar cle 27 of CRC asserts that States recognize the right of every child to a standard
of living adequate for the childs physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social
development. Homelessness denies each one of those rights. Any girl or boy
who has not reached adulthood for whom the street has become his or her
habitual abode and/or source of livelihood is inadequately protected, directed
and supervised by responsible adults.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 has guaranteed the right
to educa on (ar cle 26). The same ar cle has highlighted that: elementary
educa on shall be free and compulsory; educa on shall be directed towards full
development of individual; and educa on shall be directed towards respec ng
human rights and fundamental freedom.
Most Nepali street children are working. A common job is rag picking in which boys
and girls as young as six years old si through garbage in order to collect recyclable
materials. The children usually rise before dawn and carry their heavy load in large
bags over their shoulders. Other common jobs are collec ng firewood, tending
to animals, street vending, dying cloth, begging, pros tu on and domes c labor.
Children that work are not only subject to the strains and hazards of their labor,
they are also denied the educa on or training that could enable them to escape.
UN Aids categorized street children in four types.
1. A child of the street: Children who have no home but the street and no
family support. They move from place to place, living in shelters and
abandoned buildings.
2. A child in the street: Children who visit their families regularly and might
ever return every night to sleep at home but spend most days and nights
National perspective by Kshitij Raj Prasai
223
on the street because of poverty, overcrowding, sexual or physical abuse
at home.
3. Part of a street family: These children live on sidewalks or city squares
with the rest of their families. They may be displaced due to poverty,
wars, or na onal disasters. The families live a nomadic life, carrying their
possessions with them.
4. Institutional care: Children in this situation come from a situation of
homelessness and are at risk of returning to a life on the street.
The standard of living of many urban Nepalese has risen beyond measures,
even in the midst of political turmoil. At the same time, many children are
struggling to survive on the streets of the big cities of Nepal. According
to CWIN, every year around 500 more children are added to the street of
Kathmandu from different districts of Nepal. UNICEF has sub-categorized and
defined street children into three categories street living, street working
and street family.
Street working children are children who spend most of their time working
in the streets and markets of cities but return to their homes or the place
they live. Fulfilling their rights is the major concern for the government.
Street children are potentially future criminals as they learn many bad habits
from their peers in the absence of proper guidance and supervision. Street
childrens day-to-day life situation is very difficult in absence of proper living
conditions. These children mostly come to the street due to poverty, being
orphaned, disturbed families and displaced backgrounds. They are denied
love and affection and have never experienced healthy social and home
environments in their past. Their psychosocial condition is very volatile and
vulnerable to addictions. We have seen that no systematic and sustainable
plans for integrating these children in society are initiated by the government.
Few NGOs seem to have engaged in temporary integration but there is no
visible master plan for their sustainable reintegration. Children are the future
of any society. Todays investment to them will bring positive returns in
the future. Proper psychological development, good culture, nurturing and
discipline are some important elements that all children need. They need to
be instilled as the foundation stone from the early days of their upbringing.
In absence of these elements, a childs growth will be obstructed and there
will be negative social impacts for society as a whole.

224
It seems that without developing some viable programs to retain the poor and
displaced children in their origin districts, influx of street children will con nue
to grow in big ci es in Nepal. Nepal will have to witness even far more social
problems in the days to come unless it is treated in the early years.
The street children need to be rehabilitated with voca onal educa on. The
government, in partnership with NGOs/INGOs, must prepare plans to give
these children good life-skills educa on so that they can easily be integrated
into society. The government must open some rehab centers in its development
regions. It is es mated that there are 454 childcare centers in Nepal and among
them 321 are running with legal permission. There are 11,969 children living in
childcare centers and the majority is in Kathmandu (according to Subject wise
report, Human Rights Commission Nepal). Other NGO partners also can join in
this mission. These children must be provided with basic minimum facili es for
living a be er life over a certain period of me.
Due to poverty and the lack of awareness, many parents do not have the skills to
bring up their children in a proper manner. Child rights and Nepals commitment
towards ensuring CRC and other legal ma ers are not properly disseminated in
the communi es. Similarly, corporal punishment at homes and schools is also
contribu ng to making children run away from schools. They are learning violence
from the beginnings of their life. However, the Child Welfare Board is already in
place and has prepared many frameworks and guidelines to protect child rights
and ensure child friendly environments in schools and in homes but in absence of
proper monitoring and follow up these regula ons seem ineec ve. Organiza ons
like UNICEF, Save the Children, CVICT and CWIN have been ac vely advoca ng
the cause of child rights in Nepal and there has been some significant progress
in the formula on of laws and acts at policy level. However, key elements that
are needed to be implemented and translated into prac ce (rehabilita on and
integra on in society) are yet to be worked out. There are children found in the
street who are just five to eight years of age. They are the most vulnerable. They
need to be immediately rescued and given proper care. Similarly, there are children
of 16-17 years old also in the street. They need to be given skills and training.
NGOs/INGOs par cipa on would be the key towards raising advocacy, ensuring
awareness and dissemina ng informa on sharing among key stakeholders about
child rights. The real ini a on of protec ng child rights must be coming from
the government. Government child protec on and monitoring units must be
National perspective by Kshitij Raj Prasai
225
strong so that they immediately report to concerned authori es. There should
be proper alloca on of child funding at local and central levels so that various
programs for children can be developed.
There are some ini a ves undertaken by a few organiza ons to provide educa on
to street children. These include CWIN, Mai Nepal, ILO, UNICEF, SAVE, CVICT
and CIWIS; but it is very dicult to a ract the street children to the classroom
unless it improves their livelihood and other basic requirements for living. In the
absence of fixed residing places, guidance and livelihoods they cannot (maybe
will not) a end school. Similarly, a center for psychosocial counseling is equally
important, along with other facili es.
There are s ll significant numbers of children who are out of school and street
children are mostly falling into this category. Simply conduc ng an enrollment
drive for these children will not help, unless also managing their residency and
other facili es for living. For this purpose, resource mobiliza on is an important
aspect. The government and other organiza ons must have a proper database
and sta s cs of these children. There are several childcare centers which give
shelter to street and displaced children, but the government does not seem to
monitor them properly. There are some cases of sexual abuse and exploita on
coming to no ce from these centers. These things need to be closely monitored.
Besides this, there needs to be more and more quality childcare centers and a
proper arrangement for providing educa on.
Some good ini a ves by the government and NGO sectors include:
Establishment of women and children ministry

Forma on of Child Welfare Board at the central level and oces in
district level
Establishment of Human Rights Commission with a child protec on cell
Juvenile jus ce system
Childcare and rehab center ini ated by the government
Child help line (toll free phone number)
Scholarship program for vulnerable children
Educa on for all
Emergency child rescue fund
Quality childcare centers by NGO ini a ves
Kshi j Raj Prasai

226
By Sophie Rollin
Coordinator Educa on-La Chaine de lEspoir (France-Interna onal)
Education a matter of great urgency!

Even if educa on cons tutes one of the fundamental rights of the child, it doesnt
always appear as a field of priority interven on, and the percentage of relief work
devoted to it remains very low.
Today, dozens of millions of children who live in the poorest countries dont go
to school. However, them being granted access to educa on could change their
future perspec ves, as well as the ones of their close rela ves, their community
and, on a larger scale, their country.
The impact of such an ac on to promote the educa on of underprivileged children

is huge, for it is measured well beyond the individual who gets it, and its eects
have posi ve consequences on the long run in many fields.
A child who goes to school will be able, when reaching adulthood, to get a more
qualified and be er paid job. He will thus be in a posi on to meet his own needs,
the ones of his family, and will ac vely contribute to the economic development
of his country. Not only is educa on essen al to enable the individuals to get
out of a state of poverty, but it also brings about some changes in the behaviors,
mentali es, and improves the health of the individuals. An educated child will
become an adult able to keep himself informed, to treat himself and to prevent
himself from ge ng any disease. Once a parent, he will take care of his children
and will send them to school when they reach the age.
Beyond quan fiable impacts, the benefits for the childs circle can take various
forms: in Afghanistan, an illiterate mother learns to read and write via her
daughter who goes to a school we built in the Panshir In Thailand, a child who
was the beneficiary of our program, once he became a primary school teacher,
transferred his first salary to the poor children in his village The examples are
countless!
International perspective by Sophie Rollin
227
Finally, for the children whose vulnerability is heightened by their roving on the
streets of Nepal, India, Cambodia or elsewhere, the acquisi on of a knowledge
is par cularly important, for it notably enables them to regain a certain sense
of self-esteem they lost with the violences and exploita ons they suered from.
Thanks to school or to a voca onal training, they reconnect with their childhood
and make up with the future. They learn again some rules and reference points
which will enable them to reintegrate into the society from which they were
excluded, and to become one of its full-fledged actors.
We cannot make an exhaus ve list of the benefits of the development of access

to educa on for underprivileged children. Even if the obstacles to educa on are
numerous and some mes complex, it is a ma er of great urgency to overcome
them. Educa on has a las ng impact on many individuals, in many fields, and it
goes for the lack of it too!
Sophie Rollin

228
Key findings
O 15% of the street children have never been to school and only 9% have
completed a primary school educa on.
O Over 40% of the respondents had stayed in school un l grades 3 to 5,

except those aged 10 to 12. They were well under 30%.
O The main reasons cited not to study for this group varied by the age group.
For 10 year olds, it was they did not want to study. For 11 year olds, they
le for financial reasons. For 12 year olds, violence was the main reason.
O More than 60% of the street children can read and write. The excep on
is 10 year olds where only 21% can read and write.
O Educa onal classes given by NGOs are very popular and 51% reported that
they would like to go back to school. For the street youth (in par cular the
17 and 18 year olds) over 90% would prefer to learn a skill or be in training.
Most of the children really want to learn a job or go back to school, their
personal experiences do not prevent them from being aware of the need,
in the long run, to have certain knowledge.
O The majority of all age groups could foresee a bright future for themselves.
There was a wide range of jobs they wanted to pursue with a driver being
the most common (26%). 67% said they would like to work abroad at some
stage. Most of the children want to live in Kathmandu but 38% s ll prefer
to live in a village. 92% wanted to have their own children.
O 72% believed going to America would be the best opportunity of their life.
In par cular, this was highly favored by the 14 and 15 year olds.
O Most of the children have experienced situa ons of abuses, crises, violence
or extreme poverty in their family. They reach a point where they see their
current street situa on as a be er one and as a perspec ve which could
last (for lack of any other possibility). For this reason, many of them have
envisioned a future on the street.
Key findings
229
We must also note that the children in a street situa on are really disappointed
by the organiza ons which oer training or school alterna ves. At the end of the
day, the child or youth doesnt really believe in it and focuses on what is possible in
his environment. He knows that having a good life on the street is not completely
possible, but he has got his habits, his friends, his tempta ons and he is a ached
to them.
The dream of going abroad also exists, but it is less strong than the convic on
that their future will be on the street. To explain this paradox and this armed
a rac on for a life the child knows to be complicated and dangerous, we will make
a comparison with the resiliency concept developed by Boris Cyrulnik about the
children who are the vic ms of war: All sorrows are bearable if we make a story
out of it. This saying indeed seems to work for the street children in Nepal.
Each child has integrated a specific story that can explain his history and allows
him to share it. Some mes, in extreme cases, abandoned children appropriate
themselves a story which they didnt really live.
The story roman cizes, trapped between reality and fic on, usually showing a hero,
who is o en the father or the mother, and an an -hero, which is either society or a
member of the family. A persecu on, a danger allows the child to explain the li le
brilliant a tudes of his family. The story is o en very beau ful, but very superficial
as far as actual elements are concerned: the names of the parents, of the village,
are deliberately omi ed. One says over there or far away in the mountains.
The street and its dicul es are also turned into a game, a story. One tells adventures
and makes light of the suerings. One talks about the death of close friends or
rela ves with the extraordinary detachment a narra on allows. It is as if we are in a
big game, and one forgets about the everyday life, in an everyday resiliency. Drugs
allow them to forget and the child carefreeness remains an important factor of
this ability of resiliency. The child thinks posi ve to get over what he goes through.
Some dreams the ones of becoming rich and powerful, of becoming a doctor do
exist, but the child knows the Nepali upward social mobility is broken down (did it
ever exist anyway?) and that he is in the basement of a society which rejects him.
Failing a beau ful future, a big plate of meat, a glue bag and a good movie will
be enough for a moment of joy. The Nepali street child lives one day at a me,
he hardly does make plans. Many of those children who par cipated here were
puzzled at our ques ons about the future. And all the more so, when we asked
them to argue about it.

230
CHAPTER EIGHT
A SPECIFIC STUDY ON THE THAMEL GROUP

AND ITS RELATION TO TOURISTS
CPCS
231
ARTICLE 27 (CRC) : Every child has the right to a
standard of living adequate for (his/her) physical,
mental, spiritual, moral and social development
Living on the street, children must sleep and live in the garbage, under the
open sky and in very dirty areas. The environment for them means violence,
abuse, dir ness, garbage.
Chapter 8: A Specific Study on the Thamel Group and its Relation to Tourists
232
Introduction
For this last chapter of our study on the street childhood in Nepal, we chose to
focus on a specific situa on: the actual case of a group of street children in the
very specific context of the Thamel tourist area.
This chapter aims at understanding this strange link, this rela onship between the
traveler and the street child. The embarrassment, the aec on or any other feeling
which is generated by an unse ling, disturbing and painful situa on are not limited
to the Thamel tourist area, which will nevertheless be the core and the outline of
our study. Everywhere in the world, travelers come across situa ons of poverty
which aect them, leave them worrying or disturb them. As Westerners, we are
not, one assumes, used to seeing a child sleep on the street, without any care,
protec on or love. However, we are here on holiday and their insistence bothers us.
Humbly, and thanks to our years of observa ons and the knowledge we have
of these children, we will try to understand or at least to approach the link
which develops, the feelings generated by a forced contact between the tourist
and the street child.
We will start with a descrip on of the studied place and the groups which mix
there. This is almost impossible, and we will therefore be very careful with the
categoriza ons that we make and leave enough room for the diversity of these
groups.
We will then go on with a series of comments on the rela onships which develop,
on the interac on between the two studied groups the tourists and the children
in order to find out what brings them together, what they learn from one
another, what they bandy about. We will analyze the detected incomprehensions
and the problems which are tackled. To avoid ending up with a too vague or too
rough dra , we will use the following scheme:
Introduction
233
A. How do the interlocutors interact?
B. How do the interac ons take place on a verbal / non-verbal point of view?
C. Can we set out rules (regulari es) concerning specific interac ons?
D. What are the factors that come into play and regulate communica ons?
E. What makes communica ons easier and what hinders it?
Then, by groups, we will go through the most interes ng visions and first-hand
accounts met during our discussions.
Finally, we will use these visions to explain some of the consequences of interac on
and end with a very open conclusion on this complex subject.
234
Description of the studied place and groups (children
and tourists)
Descrip on of the studied place:
Thamel is the tourist area of Kathmandu, the trendy area where travelers from all
over the world find housing, food and are welcomed, whatever their budget. It is
located in the centre of Kathmandu and is about one square kilometer. Thamel has
an abundance of hotels, guest houses, li le stalls or more chic shops. Almost in the
geographic centre of Kathmandu, Thamel also hosts trekkers and mountaineers
before and a er their trips. Most trekking agencies are represented in this area.
The economic role of this area is vital for a country in which the genera on of
foreign currency is mainly based on tourism. Thousands of Nepali, qualified or
not, find a job there. There are 2,500 companies. Even if a li le shallow, as every
tourist area, Thamel however has a specific atmosphere, which has lasted since
the hippies of the six es. These were the first foreign residents of an area which
was going to grow and assert itself.
As for diversity, we can count about fi y dierent culinary special es oered by

the local restaurants. One nega ve side of Thamel is that it is also a hot spot for
pros tu on, abuses, the taking of drugs and pe y crime. One either loves or
hates it, but Thamel leaves no one cold. Noises, smells of spices, crowds, street
vendors, street musicians, no one is le to rest in Thamel. It either cap vates
or irritates, and even if it doesnt represent Nepal, it feels compulsory to transit
through it for those who want to enter the country.
Descrip on of the studied groups:

The group of the Thamel street children:
We have already widely tackled this diculty if not impossibility of categoriza on
in the cultural studies sec on, and we will not go back to this, but rather apply
the conclusions we drew to the understanding of this specific group made out
of the Thamel street children.
As a reminder, rather than a specific defini on of the street child, we iden fied
six dierent visions which allowed us to iden fy dierent children and dierent
groups.
Let us briefly go back to them before applying them to the situation of the
Thamel group:
Description of the studied place and groups (children and tourists)
235
A journey to the street (where does he come from?): The child, the youth in a
street situa on has got a past and one cannot dwell upon his everyday life or
even try to build a future for and with him without taking into account what he
has been through, why he ended up on the street and his family situa on.
In Thamel: There are two categories of street children in Thamel: the ones
(children in the street) who still have a family contact in Kathmandu and come
to the street from time to time for activities such as prostitution, pickpocketing
or drug sales, and the ones who live there permanently and dont have any link
with their family anymore (children of the street). They come from villages and
arrived in Kathmandu for various reasons (family violence, death, economic
situation, etc.). Most of them have been on the street for more than a year
and have lived in other areas before getting a taste for Thamel and being
accepted by the others.
Vulnerability to abuses and other risks: Before we start any working process
with a child in a street situation, we have to analyse and be aware of the risks
and abuses inherent to his everyday life in such a context. The child, on his
236
own and partially or completely isolated from his family context is vulnerable
and there are a lot of predators: adults, teenagers, other children
In Thamel: We talked a lot about it in chapter 4, but let us notice the extreme
vulnerability of children at the hands of predatory tourists. Some of them
despise other Asian destinations where the laws are now more punitive, and
above all enforced to take advantage of the apparent relative impunity for
child abuses in Nepal. This plague is becoming more and more extensive, but
is left untreated by the authorities, local contractors and the police, either
out of self-interest or out of embarrassment.
The use of drugs: At first a consequence, then progressively one of the causes
of some unique and psychologically explosive cocktails which combine, for
each child in a street situation, different factors such as memories of past
suffering, complex current realities and an uncertain future, the use of more
or less hallucinatory, more or less dangerous drugs cannot be ignored.
In Thamel: The Thamel street children all take glue, hashish, alcohol and
sometimes even harder drugs. They are in touch with drug dealers who use
them to retail and contact the tourists which are potential customers. The
use of narcotics increases the risk of abuses even more.
Social context and daily conflicts: It is obvious that the child in a street
situation is not an isolated being. He is often a member of a group which
reacts against other groups in a specific social context. Of course, the child,
such as any individual, builds an image of what surrounds him, assigning
different roles to everyone.
In Thamel: There are about 16 children between 8 and 20 years old in the
main gang of street children in Thamel, which is the group on which we
focused our analysis. Depending on the periods, the number of members
varies between 15 and 20. This gang has got its own rules and is different
from the other groups of street children in Kathmandu. It has got its leaders,
its organization, its consistency, its rules of life. There is a huge solidarity
between the children and they are protected by the elders (who, in return,
use or exploit them). They avoid contact with NGOs, giving them only a limited
role in case of diseases or other health problem.
237
For the moment, the Thamel Tourism Board (which is in charge of the tourist
development in Thamel) is trying to improve the image of the area and is thus
cleaning the streets, the children included, for they some mes bother the tourists
or give a bad image. Their daily life has thus go en a li le more complicated and
several groups (the police, security guards, etc.) impose daily changes on the gang
regarding the way they deal with their needs (where to sleep, where to eat, where
to beg, where to sell, etc.).
Educaon: This is a key point, should we consider that the transi on from childhood
to adolescence, then to adulthood involves a whole range of acquisi ons. It is the
same for the fact of being socially integrated and integrable. And yet, the child in
a street situa on is a priori in diculty or completely excluded from two basic
agents involved in these acquisi ons: school and family. What, however, is the reality?
In Thamel: The Thamel gang indeed refuses the opportuni es of educa on the
NGOs oer them. With tourists, however, they learn geography, English, smartness
and many other resources. Some have a li le educa onal background, but all seem
238
to be clever. The most intellectually limited children dont stay in Thamel for a long
me: they get to an NGO or elsewhere. As for the NGOs, the projects inaptly cross
and duplicate one another. Some mes, touched tourists create temporary micro-
projects without any legal basis. O en, NGOs launch a project to end it a few months
later. The outcome for these children is a real distrust of the social workers from
most NGOs, except for two or three which are tolerated but very li le listened to.
The working condions and/or daily acvies: The child in a street situa on,
hanging around on the street during the day, also keeps himself busy there. In
Nepal, some ac vi es can clearly be iden fied as forms of work (collec on of
rubbish, cleaning, sale of newspapers). Others are more unse ling or confusing
(drug sales, pros tu on, begging, pe y the ), even if they cons tute some forms
of ac vi es and o en are, one way or another, remunera ve and necessary.
In Thamel: The children are mostly beggars. It is more dicult for the oldest who
make do with drug sales, the or protec on/exploita on of the youngest. Many of
them picked plas c and some mes s ll do, but not much. Begging is more profitable
and easier.
The target group:

The target group we are analyzing is thus a group of 15 to 20 children, isolated from
their family and who permanently live in Thamel. 16 of them took an ac ve part in
this study. They are as following:
First name Age Origin Has been in

Thamel for
1 Anil T 18 Sarlahi 12 years
2 Ratne T 12 Trisuli 4 years
3 Hari P 20 Dhading 10 years
4 Asish L 18 Samakhusi, Ktm 15 years
5 Asish S 16 Lahan 9 years
6 Bijay B 15 Barabise 5 years
7 Mlan K 17 Biratnagar 1 year
8 Sujan P 15 Gorkha 2 years
9 Bijay D 13 Hetauda 1 year
239
First name Age Origin Has been in
Thamel for
10 Sankhar B 16 Barabise/ samakhusi 5 years
11 Ganesh P 15 Butwal 1 year
12 Prabin P 16 Dachainkali 3 years
13 Manoj K 13 Sinduplanchowk 2 years
14 Kamal BT 16 Barabise 1 year
15 Kale P ? ? 9 years
16 Biraj R 14 Okhaldhunga 3 years
The Western or Westernized tourists:

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, more than 600,000 tourists visited Nepal
in 2010. A racted by the mountains, the beauty of the landscapes, Buddhism,
etc., most of these travelers stop for a while in the Thamel area.
We will focus on the so called Westernized tourists and not on the Indian
tourists, on who the Nepali and the children have a dierent view. Of course,
it is very complicated to dis nguish the tourist groups in Thamel clearly. This
area is a jumble, a hive of ac vity where all the na onali es come across one
another and mix. It is already complicated to talk about Westernized tourists, so
what should we do about South American, Arab, Chinese and Japanese tourists?
One can iden fy an average tourist by the way the Nepali look at him. The
typical tourist is white, rich and naturally or anyway hopefully tends to
be generous. This simplis c interpreta on would already deserve a whole new
research paper but it is not the object of our study.
It is dicult for us to describe this group more accurately.
We did not pick a specific sample of tourists according to set criteria, we rather
communicated with them in an informal way through li le indirect discussions
with the ones who accepted to express themselves.
To do so and to avoid any hodgepodge, we used some of our Western volunteers

to establish a link and to build trust.
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Visions and first-hand accounts
Visions and first-hand accounts from children:
(By current and former Thamel street children)
Kamal B, 17 years (from Barabise, lived in Thamel for 5 years):

I like Thamel because I earn more money here than in any other place. There are
many tourists here and I really enjoy talking with them and begging money from
them. I earn 500 rupees a day and spend all my money on dendrite. Ive never
been vic mized by any foreigner. Foreigners usually target small children and I
wasnt here during my childhood. I understand and I also speak a li le English. I
easily spot tourists from dierent countries via their language, appearance and
a tude. I know this way of life is not a sustainable one but I wont give up the
entertainment and freedom Ive got. However, life in Thamel is not a bed of roses;
it is also more stressful and we put our life more at risk too. We stay aware of
street junkies and of the police who ba er us and steal our money.
Bijay B, 15 years (from Panau , lived in Thamel for 6 years):

I le home due to family violence, but when I arrived here at first, I missed my
family all the me, even though I knew they were not kind. Nevertheless, a er
having made some friends here, Im never thinking about my family anymore
and I dont even care about them. In comparison, Thamel, it is paradise. I earn
a lot more money. Some mes I get more than 3,000 rupees by begging from
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tourists. When they see my burned face, their feelings increase in kindness.
Previously, I was a li le nave and just thought to make money; during that me
I was sexually vic mized by Chinese tourists. This made me earn $100. Like me,
many new li le boys are s ll vic mized by tourists. That is why living in Thamel
has both posi ve and nega ve consequences. In Thamel, I learned the English
language and so now it is easy to communicate with tourists in order to beg.
However, on the other hand, between the easily accessible dendrite, the street
junkies and the police, Im never able to save any money.
Biraj R, 14 years (from Okhaldhunga, has been living in Thamel

for 3 years):
Since I was a child, Ive always liked listening to music and seeing colorful lights.
These are the main reasons of my staying in Thamel. I want to live in the present
without caring about the future. Earning 400500 rupees a day is enough for
me to survive and enjoy my life. I beg from Khaire (white-skinned tourists).
Some mes I trick them, pretending Im starving. Most of the me, I sleep with
my other friends inside the Thamel area, but some mes we all go to the KOPILA
house, which is really near. The police, security guards and junkies are our main
problem. The police do not allow us staying and begging in Thamel, security
guards also torture us, and junkies grab our money and other stu.
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Ashish L, 18 years (Morang):
I first moved from Biratnagar to Kathmandu with my father who is a porter. In
the early days a er reaching Kathmandu, Ive lived in a room with my parents.
Then I le and started to live on the street. In the beginning, I used to live in New
Buspark and then I came to Thamel. Ive been living in Thamel for 13 years. Im
free here and I enjoy living from my own income. I really enjoy the company of
my friends, they are more important to me than my family. I earn 200-300 rupees
a day. Life in Thamel was hard before, but now it is easier because people are
behaving in a more sociable way. Im star ng to think that my life in Thamel will
not last long like this. I eat le overs from restaurants; in return I have to work for
them. I realized it wont work for a long me anymore. I take dendrite, usually
it is easy to get and cheap. Im planning to take some training in the future and
to work as a driver or something like that. However, I cant leave my friends
because the police, junkies and local people put us in trouble and if anything
bad happens, they blame us.
Prabin P, 17 years (Kathmandu):

Im na ve to Dakshinkali, in Kathmandu. Before coming to Thamel, we used to
visit and roam around in the Dakshinkali temple. We (my sister and I) le and
started to live on the street together. At first, we lived in Bagbazar, then we
moved here and to Kalima Basantapur. I have been living in Thamel for 2 years.
I really like Thamel; my friends are nice and friendly. There is no problem for the
meals, but we get problems to sleep at night. We beg, steal and pick-pocket.
We use the money we earn to buy dendrite. There is no problem for the food:
foreigners oer us meals or some mes they give us money to buy some food.
We ask foreigners for food by saying Im hungry. It is nicer than living in an
organiza on. Some mes we get in trouble with the police and the junkies. We
really enjoy the day me, but in the evening it is hard to sleep. I miss my family,
but I dont want to come back empty-handed. I hope that someone helps me by
sponsoring me. My sister is also living in the city.
Santosh C, 17 years (from Okhaldhunga, spent 4 years in

Thamel):
During my stay in Thamel, I was a guide for tourists and I was earning an average
of 500-600 rupees a day. Some mes, they gave me 1,000-1,500 rupees as ps.
I le Thamel because of the police. The tourists gave us lunch and dinner, and
money as well. I earned more money even though I spent it buying dendrite and
movies the very day I received it. I dont want to go back to Thamel because at
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night the police patrolling teams may arrest us, take us to custody and use us
for their household chores. In Thamel, we were not put under pressure by the
tourists, shopkeepers and others, but were by the police and security guards. We
were a big group of about 13-16 boys so the junkies didnt bother us. Some mes
we visited organiza ons and friends. There was no me to sleep, some mes,
and we stayed awake the whole night, but then we took turns to watch and
sleep. Some tourists were also taking ganja with us; they were friendlier with us.
Ravi R, 15 years (from Kavre, spent 2 years in Thamel):

I le Thamel because of the big boys bad behavior. I like Thamel a lot, it was very
interes ng to beg from tourists and to earn more money as well. But the youth
of Thamel ba ered me and stole my money, that is why I le the Thamel area.
Tourists bought stu for us and we resold it to the shopkeepers. That was very
interes ng. When we got the goods, we quickly went to another shop to sell it
immediately and again we came back begging in front of the supermarket. We
slept in the PF fund oce and some tourists came to give us food. I was in a nice
group in Thamel; we really cooperated with one another.
Susil S, 14 years (from Baisjagar, Lamjung, spent 4-5 years on

the street):
Ive been living on the streets for 4-5 years. When my mother passed away, my
father remarried another woman, but he also died some me later. A er my
fathers death, my stepmother started ba ering and scolding me all the me.
Because of my stepmothers torture, I le home and went to live on the street.

While I was on the street, I made some friends in Thamel and so I stayed there.
They were begging. There were 4-5 groups in total, with 5-6 people in each one
of them, which means 50-55 friends.
Some friends are begging themselves, some are begging together in a partnership
and some make others beg for them. Those who make others beg for them dont
work themselves.
In the beginning, we didnt rob one another. But later, when Anil came to Thamel,
a er first slowly adjus ng there, he built a gang. Then he started robbing others
and threatening us too. He robbed li le children and also tourists. If we refused
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to give them our money, his gang ba ered us and cut our hand with a blade. So
it is dicult to live there for li le boys.
One day, some friends came from Pokhara and told us about this place, which
made us curious. Thus, with some friends, we le Thamel and went to Pokhara.
Ram T:
Ive been living in Thamel for 4 years, but Ive been living on the street for 18
years. I visited my family twice, and I lived in CWIN during 4 years. Some mes I
stay at the CPCS. There were junkies who stole my money so I le Thamel and
went to live in Mahankal. Ive been brought to custody many mes and once I
was sent to jail for 13 months because I threw stones on a bus. Im very friendly
so everyone loves me. I regret not having been sheltered by an organiza on
before, because now Im too old and no one is ready to sponsor me.
Bibek M:
Im na ve to Hetauda. I am 18 years old and I have been living on the street since
2005. I spent three years in Thamel and received 1,500 rupees a day, some mes
2,000, by begging. I spent my money on dendrite and cigare es. We also went to
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the cinema. We went to the village to search for marijuana. In Thamel, we had
troubles with the junkies, the police and the security guards. Some mes the police
led us to the middle of the Sankhu forest, so we decided to move to Mahankal.
Sujan Pariyar:
Im na ve to Gorkha. I have been living in Mahankal since 2010. I spent 4 years
in Thamel. There, I used to rob and pick-pocket. When I beg, my income is very
low, but it is nice when pick-pocke ng because we some mes get more money.
We stole money from a stranger who was drunk and walking alone on the street.
I think that the foreigners who give us money are nice and those who dont call us
beggars. I can speak a li le English and some mes I beg in English, using signals
while asking for money from foreigners. The organiza ons must take care of us
when we are sick.
I was afraid of the police and the junkies, but here there is nothing like this. In
Thamel they ba ered us. Here, I am doing pick-pocke ng. I spend my money on
dendrite, marijuana, wine and some mes, when we earn more money, I enjoy
ea ng meat, delicious food, etc.
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Visions and first-hand accounts from tourists:
Dimitri from Ukraine:
It is really very sad to see such young children begging and sning drugs, I feel
pity for them. But Im on holiday so what can I do? It is the reality in this kind
of country, isnt it?
Mlanie from Canada:

When asked about the children roaming around on the street and begging, she
answered:
They dont have much choice If they dont have any family, where can they go?
Nowhere; except coming here. I read many books about street children. I know
the situa on. Are you working with them? Or else why would you ask me? These
children are sning glue and roaming on the street, are abused It is very sad.
There are many ci es in the world where we can see street children, not only
here in Kathmandu. You see, there are children roaming, and at the same me
you have to ask yourself Whos that person, the adult standing there, roaming
near them? (She indicated the person standing in front of Kathmandus Guest
House and who was watching the children.)
What are the programs the NGOs are se ng up for them? They are really addicted,
even if you take them to an organiza on, they probably wont be able to stay.
In my view, there are two things at stake here: the first one is begging and the
other is abuse. They are sexually abused; there are many people behind the
children, people who lead them to abuse and exploita on.
Michael from the USA:

These children are a nuisance. Theyre roaming everywhere and are very
oppressive to get a coin. Theyre also selling drugs and it is not reasonable. The
police should leave them in orphanages care.
Ghunter from Germany:

Several tourists have already had problems with them (the children). They are
stealing. But, on the other side, they are really young to be in such a situa on.
We talked a li le. Some of them speak English, and one of them even knew the
capital of Germany. Their stories are touching too and theyve got nothing.
247
Stphanie from France:
Id like to do something but I dont know what. Ive already talked a lot to them
and theyve got a lot of stories to tell. They seem to be very clever but this glue
theyre sning must be really harmful. It is dicult to go back to my beau ful
hotel room, knowing they are there, small and outside, whatever the weather.
Ariel from Israel:

Yes, it is sad to see children in such a situa on. But Im here a er my military
service to have a good me with some friends. Weve also got a lot of dicul es
in Israel and the service wasnt easy, so there is no way Im going to worry here.
When they approach me, I avoid them and turn down the conversa on. That is
the way it is.
Yuko from Japan:

Im buying candies and bread for them each me I go past them. They are kind,
except for the older ones who some mes seem to be aggressive. Id like to take
them on a trip into the nature, but I dont know how to go about it. I think this
situa on is embarrassing.
Yves from Belgium:

It is the government that has to take care of them. Really, they shouldnt be in the
tourist area. It is annoying, and Im sure it is adverse for them too. All the me,
I see them talking to tourists, telling their stories. In return, they get money or
something else. This can open the door to abuses, among others.
Visions and first-hand accounts from local actors:

Prakash Kr (policeman):
I have been working in Thamel since 2010. I see street children all the me here,
roaming, taking drugs, glue and smoking cigare es. I am busy with my job so
I cant do anything for them, even though it is sad and bad. Not only here in
the Thamel junc on are they roaming, but also in other places in Thamel like
Paknajol, Sanchya Kosh, Chhetrapa , Jyatha, Sohreku e, Lainchaur, Kan path and
Annapurna. They are very young, 12-13 years old, something like that. We cant
stop them from receiving money from foreigners. The Thamel Tourism Board is
also doing something for them, but s ll they stay here. I see the car from your
248
organiza on coming here now and then to support them, but they are addicted
to this place and thus they cant leave Thamel. They have bad habits. We tell
them not to take glue, but they disagree and never listen to us.
They are all gathering in Thamel, giving us headaches, asking money from tourists.
They come from rural areas and even if we try to send them back, they will come
back here again.
Deepak K (coee shop operator):

I see poor children coming here. They take glue and smoke cigare es. I dont
know how to change the situa on. I see you coming here every night. They dont
leave Thamel, because they are used to that kind of carefree life. I heard that
there is a house, purchased by foreigners, for them to stay. These foreigners
also give them classes. They are used to ea ng pizzas, burgers and various types
of delicious food, so they dont go back to their villages. I dont know anything
about sex abuse and I dont think they are abused by foreigners. We cant stop
them from begging here and we cant tell foreigners not to give them money
either. You cant change the whole situa on overnight; it is going to take me.
Sanu S (local resident):

They are totally trackless and carefree and whatever you do, they cant stay
with you. We see you coming every day to help them. They come here to beg
for money because of the tourists. Tourists show mercy to the children and give
money to them. We dont know anything about child sex abuse and we dont
think it happens here. They cant change our life and culture; we have our own
culture and tradi ons. They are begging for money, stealing and teasing and
harassing people. What you do is good, but they dont stay with you. Youd be er
not take them directly to your oce, but send them in rehab first, out of the
valley, and then, only a er 2-3 months of rehab, have them stay in the center.
There are many organiza ons working here, but they dont change their life.
To do so, they should be sent to a rehabilita on center first. If they live on the
street, they are not safe. Anything could happen at any me. The police arrest
them when something bad happens in Thamel.
Neema S (young salesman in a shop inside the Thamel area):
It is sad to see them. They are so young, taking dendrite, smoking cigare es I
wish they werent disturbing our customers when they want to enter our shops,
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but they gather here all the me, in front of the shops. As a Nepali, what I really
feel is sadness, because they dont harm us or anything, they just gather here,
in this junc on, sning glue and smoking cigare es.
Visions and first-hand accounts from social workers:

After considerable discussion, a dozen of field workers agreed on common
answers on several subjects which are per nent to our study. Here they are:
A) What do the children think about tourists?

They think that the term tourist only refers to white-colored skin people;
they dont care about Indian, African or Nepali tourists. They know that not all
tourists are rich, but they recognize the rich ones easily. They categorize tourists
in two types: the ones who are very nice to them because they readily give
them money and goods, and the others who are not nice because they dont
give them anything.
B) How do the children communicate with tourists?

They communicate with tourists by verbal and non-verbal means of communica on.
Some children have a good knowledge of English and so they easily communicate
with tourists, others know some English, French, Italian, etc. Some mes they
use non-verbal means such as making signs, ac ng as if they had stomach pain
because of hunger, pretending to be sick, etc.
C) How do the children view the tourists? Do they understand

the ways of the dierent countries or do they think they are all
the same?
To the children, tourists are just donors. They do not understand the ways of the
dierent countries; they just recognize good tourists or bad tourists. The tourists
who give them money and food are good ones, if not they are mean. Nevertheless,
by the way the tourists are behaving, they can tell, roughly speaking, where they
come from. To the field workers, they say: This one is an American, those are
European people, this one is Chinese, Japanese, etc.
D) Do the children think they can survive a long me that way?

They dont worry about their future. They just think about the present and their
goals are just to have fun and enjoy life. Even though they know this cannot be a
permanent way to survive on the long run, they dont want to give it up.
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E) What job do the children do?
All are beggars and pick-pockets. That is what is called a fixed job in the Thamel
area. Some also work as porters in hotels and in the field of pros tu on.
F) What do the children do during the day and at night?

In the day me they are all begging and some children are selling handicra
items to tourists or work as porters. At night, most children are begging and
pick-pocke ng, or reselling the goods they received from tourists. Only a few of
them also pick rags.
G) What do the children think about NGOs?

They think NGOs are agencies which bargain with children for their own profit.
When they are in trouble (medical, legal or regarding their security), they
remember the NGOs. The rest of the me, they are busy with street jobs. Most
of the NGOs have no long-term program for the Thamel children, they just launch
the pilot program and the impact on the children is not good. The la er think that
NGOs are just doing this for the organiza ons own profit and not for them. That is
why the ac vi es of such so-called NGOs have hampered the work of other NGOs
which are implemen ng real programs with the children and for their benefit.
Analysis of the interac ons

How do the dierent interlocutors interact?
There are various feelings involved. The children are there, in the middle of
Thamel where they sleep, live and work. The tourists see them, some take an
interest in them; others are afraid or look away.
The Western tourist is not used to being in close contact with children aected
by such des tu on, and thus he reacts as he can. First, he is on holiday and
some mes doesnt want to worry. He can also be embarrassed, irritated or angry
when faced with the insistence the children show while begging for money, food
or anything else.
Some tourist try to start a conversa on, to understand why the children are there.
The children have long and sad stories to tell, which are o en roman cized to
persuade tourists to be more generous.
Analysis of the interactions
251
As for the children, they observe, look at various ways of living, dressing and
talking they dont know. They also taste dierent foods oered by do-gooders.
Some mes, they are invited to li le restaurants and learn to talk to the tourist.
Most of them learned basic English on the street, from discussing with tourist,
and even some words from other languages.
Occasionally, they are hired as li le guides for the day.
Of course, there are more nega ve forms

of interac on between the two groups.
The children watch out for some preys
for purse-snatching, sell drugs or give
informa on to the local dealers. Moreover,
the situation of the children makes
them easy preys for pedophilic abusers.
According to what they say, each Thamel
child has already been approached for that
kind of service. On both sides, mutual percep on is full of prejudice.
Let us take up Geert Hofstedes idea7 according to which tourism is the most
superficial form of intercultural encounter. . Of course, as an interac ve point of
connec on, Thamel doesnt carry any value nor local culture. But there is a form
of exchange. Li le seeds are being planted, certainly within the childrens minds
who see and discover some elements and dierent ways of living.
7
Geert Hofstede, Cultures and Organiza ons, Great Britain, Mc Graw-Hill Interna onal, 1991.
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Street children are indeed s ll children, they are s ll learning and their cultural
boundaries are not well-defined. Besides, because of the street situa on and
the no on of survival, they are forced to show considerable flexibility, and
thus also openness. He wont be shocked if a tourist oers him a beef burger
(although this meat is prohibited for Hindus). Trust or friendship rela onships can
also spring up, but because of the prejudice or the childs needs, this situa on
cannot last very long.
Thamel, a place of integra on?

Could the interac ons between tourists and children become factors of social
reintegra on? The answer is no, clearly no. The interac ons delude the child
with a wrong percep on of the tourist What he sees is just an image of the
tourist at a specific moment. One does not behave the same way on holiday as
one does in the everyday life in ones home country.
Children thus have a distorted percep on of a lifestyle they think (for the eldest
ones) they understand perfectly. They start to like the music they hear, such as
hip hop or any other globalized music (Madonna, Michael Jackson, etc.), claim
to love pizzas, pastas and French fries, etc.
The Thamel children have a specific a achment to that place. Of course, money
flows there, but they also told us they feel privileged to indirectly sample joys
253
which are prohibited to the other Nepali Within their daily suerings, living in
Thamel gives them a status that they violently guard against other street children
gangs/groups.
However, they are not nave, they know their daily life is not good and have
seen the eldest ones destroyed by Thamel. The path is simple and they know
it: a er having reached the age of 17-18, it becomes impossible to live on the
street in Thamel, to beg and touch the passers-by. The craving for drugs increases.
Pe y crime becomes crime and they are enrolled in a mafia, that is, if they had
the chance to escape a fatal disease (contracted through sexual rela ons which
start very early or through the use of injected drugs).
Thamel is thus not a place of integra on which will bring the child back to society.
On the contrary, Thamel pushes him away from the NGOs, and the interac on
with tourism pushes him into another somewhat parallel world, which only exists
via his imagina on and the narco cs he takes.
How do the interac ons take place on the verbal / non-verbal

point of view?
The first verbal contact is usually the begging, on a plain ve pitch, for money or
something to eat, or the proposal to sell some drugs. The ini al plain ve pitch
quickly leaves room for a certain verbal but also physical insistence, the child
follows his prey for a while un l he gets what he wants. The tourists answer
depends on his mood and/or convic ons. Some mes, the tone is very clear and
brings the child to understand he has to stop asking. O en, the answer is full
of embarrassment, something like no, but which conveys the reflec on in
progress (a er all, it is a child).
The child then knows and feels that the door is open and that he will more than
likely get something. So, he goes on and starts using his usual expressions. If,
a er a while, he s ll doesnt get any money, he switches to the beau ful story of
milk which is necessary for his li le sister, or says that he hasnt eaten anything
for 5 days, or that there is no organiza on which supports him, etc. When he
finally gets the tourist to listen to him, when the verbal link, the real contact,
is established, he shows o his skills.
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On the lean kine days (which is a somewhat sad expression in a country where
those animals are sacred), the child uses other techniques for people to look at
him and to start the interac on. For example, one of them will cover his head
with a big bandage and pork blood; it will then be easy to draw the a en on
of tourists and to more easily get what they want. They have the rou ne ready,
but it is risky, as some passers-by want to take them to a hospital, which forces
them to quickly flee
That being said, the non-verbal contact seems to be present at any me. The
children are there, invisible, but they watch out for every gesture or movement.
At night, they feel like kings, sit proudly on top of the walls, at the corner of the
buildings, they spy, see, try to understand, reproduce. On the other side, some
intrigued tourists open partway the curtains of their comfortable hotel room
and observe those very strange li le beings.
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Can we set out rules (pa erns) concerning specific interac ons?
The game of the capital ci es or of the gree ngs: The conversa on very frequently
starts with a li le game. The child spots the language of the tourist and tells him
the name of his country and the capital city. What usually follows is a gree ng in
the language of the tourist, a li le word the child learned before. The tourist is
impressed, and asks the child for more informa on: How do you know this?,
Do you go to school?, Whats your name?. For the child, it is already half won,
the contact is established and the conversa on can begin.
The request for milk for the little sister: Another regularity which must be
highlighted (because of its frequency) is the story of the starving li le sister.
The tourist usually answers that he doesnt want to give money, and the child
then begins to tell his story about milk being absolutely necessary to feed a li le
sister in need. The child has the hang of things, and the story touches the tourist.
He thus goes in a shop and oers the child the package of dried milk powder he
asked for. The package will then be resold for a few rupees with the help of the
local shopkeepers.
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A game or actor situa on: The interac on is built between two interlocutors who
are, in a way, playing. The child exaggerates a situa on he has been through in
order to beg in a more eec ve way. For example, he will refuse to wear clean
clothes, pretend to be starving, or worse, feign to have a serious wound. The
tourist himself is also playing. He usually doesnt act the same on holiday as in
his daily life: he wears other clothes, acts dierently, plays his role of a carefree
vaca oner. Of course, there are many various reali es and home countries among
the observed tourists.
In a way, the child knows the tourist plays a role, and vice versa. However, they
mutually give themselves a decep ve and truncated appearance.
What are the factors which come into play and regulate
communica ons?
The ques on of space:

The tourist is on holiday, alone or with his family and he has plans and habits.
If, as he is in another country, he is ready to make concessions, he nevertheless
wants his private sphere to be respected.
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The typical tourist is white, Western and is not used to seeing close
promiscuity. The culture shock Nepal gives him is significant. Hall considers
the Westerner as belonging to a group where contacts are limited and where
his privacy matters a lot. The idea of privacy, of personal space is very different
for the Nepali.
The Western tourist quickly feels oppressed, he is being looked at, stared
at, pressed against and even touched. In Nepal, men will be completely
unscrupulous about holding hands on the street or walking arm-in-arm. The
tourist woman, given the reputation of white women, risks bum groping,
something no Nepali would dare to do with a fellow citizen.
For children in a street situation, the situation is all the more extreme: they
live in a group, share everything, sleep on top of one another and the only
property they have is the clothes (or rags, should we rather say) they wear.
Living on the street when one is small implies to press oneself against the
others. Alone, one doesnt survive. The smallest children press themselves
against the bigger ones to face dangers, protect themselves against dogs
and human predators.
The child in interaction with the tourist will tend to quickly press himself
against him, to enter his private sphere, his personal space. The child usually
doesnt consider this approach to be aggressive or oppressive, he rathers feels
the need to be protected. The street child remains a child, him being armed
with a knife or worn-down with violence doesnt change his crave for love,
protection and his attraction to an adult who could love him That is also
why he is such an easy a prey for pedophilic predators.
Of course, entering the personal space of the tourist also enables him to steal
his wallet The latter is not fooled, and if he can be touched, he will remain
watchful and will usually drive back the child, as he is shocked by his approach.
Once again, let us be careful about generalizations. The tourists we are talking
about, even if we limit them to the white Westerners (a term which is
already full of infinite ambiguity) are from really various cultures. A Finnish
doesnt have the same habits as an inhabitant of Marseilles, and an Italian
mother will react differently towards a seemingly defenseless child from a
258
Norwegian lady without children who went to Nepal to climb a mountain.
Even our reflec on includes prejudice: a er all, why would our Norwegian lady
not succumb to the li le and sad smile of a lost child?
Let us not forget that the tourist is far away from his habits and doesnt wear
his usual defences (his suit, his a ach case, his car, etc.).
During our years of observa ons and mee ngs with those children, we frequently
saw that the most distant and the coldest persons from cultures a priori
without any contact according to Hall let, with ridiculous ease, those li le beings
enter their sphere. These eorts are radical and useless for the children in the
long run (hos ng the children in their room, taking them with them, ren ng a
flat for them, giving them all their clothes, etc.).
As for privacy, the street child lives, washes himself, sleeps, relieves himself and
cries in the street. He thus cannot easily understand the need for personal space
felt by the tourist or the Westerner.
Olfactory parameters:
To paraphrase Hall8, let us say that the Westerner, in general, is underdeveloped
concerning the use of his olfactory senses. In Asia, and especially in Nepal, the
smells are everywhere, strong and intense. At first a wonderful smell of cooking,
of spices, and then the smell of the dejec ons and garbage which are strewn
over the ground.
Of course, street children live in the dirt, are used to it and some mes (certainly
for plas c pickers) emit a smell of garbage.
They only have li le access to facili es where they can wash or change clothes,
and have very few spare clothes (if any). Besides, the Thamel street child rightly
or wrongly considers his ragged getup as an asset to beg. Many refuse to wear
the clothes oered by organiza ons or a tourist because it works less well
when they ask for charity. The smell and appearance go along with the figure.
8
Edward T. Hall, The Hidden Dimension, New York, Doubleday & C, 1966.
259
Visual and auditory parameters:
The senses of the tourist who arrives in Kathmandu, and more specifically in
Thamel, are turned upside down by so many solicita ons. Colors, noises, singing
and the most surprising images a cow crossing the street and blocking a truck,
a bus entangled in trac jam, the toots of the tuk-tuks, tempos or rickshaws are
everywhere. The cries of people, the yells of the amps which pour out adver sing
or poli cal slogans, are omnipresent.
The street child is, of course, used to it. However, his own senses are in a state
of alert in view of the incongrui es he sees in the tourists appearance, sounds
and words. Their appearance is strange, the way they express themselves too,
and their style fashionable, hippy surprise them.
The tourist easily stands out, with his camera and his sandals with socks. Dressed
up like an advendurer (in the middle of the city), such as Indiana Jones, he makes
the child smile with his morous, but some mes haughty or annoyed, appearance.
What makes communica ons easier and what hinders it?

For the child, the tourist is a poten al customer. There is thus some kind of
rela onship, of communica on, to be established. The customer will have to
answer to various proposi ons: coins, drugs, food, etc. The child must establish
contact and develops a thousand stratagems to do so, which eases, or rather
forces, communica on, but also distorts it. What the child wants, we guess, is the
wallet. But is it not what each local actor in contact with tourism, and especially
with mass tourism, wants?
The prejudice/stereotypes carried by the two groups both ease and hinder
communica on. The child considers the tourist to be rich, powerful, but easy
to scam.
The tourist considers the child either with pity, as a poor li le street child, or
with anger, as a pe y criminal.
260
Both par es wont feign to understand whom they really face. Their worlds are
really dierent from one another, as are their knowledge, and it is dicult to
find a common language. Of course, English acts as an intermediary, but it is
poorly mastered and doesnt enable them to dig further. Even if it was enough,
the sphere of understanding is really narrowed by the dierent cultures of both
groups. Incomprehensions and misunderstandings are thus common. That being
said, prejudice also some mes pushes people to establish a link, as we have said
before, since the child needs the tourist to survive.
The police may either represent a hindrance or some mes a facilitator. The
visible violence they show against the children pushes the tourist (who feels
exhilarated in a humanitarian way and who likes to llate the authori es) to
help the children, to talk to them, to prevent the policeman from scaring them
o with a s ck.
As for the NGOs, they try to inform the tourist and to prevent him from giving.
Signs are placed, brochures are distributed to explain not to give, but rather to
contact the organiza ons, etc., which unnerves the children.
261
Problems related to interaction
Begging:
As we have said before, in Thamel, most of the street children find money, food,
and even a temporary housing through begging.
They wander about the streets, looking for good souls. However, begging puts
them in a situa on into which they risk to retreat. Admi edly, begging brings
money, but it also puts the child in a state of dependence which marginalizes
him even more and doesnt enable him to one day find his place within society
(or only a very inferior one). The begging child is o en socially unstructured,
inferior, considers himself as a parasite who is dependent on the goodwill of the
general public (even if begging seems to remain a game).
Moreover, the child prevents himself from accessing any form of educa on or
socializa on oered by his own family or by the organiza ons. The la er are
262
really powerless and the phenomenon is becoming more and more widespread.
Of course, repression is inecient and preven on is dicult with the children.
In Thamel, street children have a higher daily income than the social worker that
comes to meet them.
The tourists, as well as the local popula on, seem to be lost in the clichs about
begging. Some of them think that it is selfish not to give anything. The tourists
who give money to the children do not seem to understand that they do not
improve their daily life, or their wellbeing, or their mental or physical health. They
just enable the child and his friends to buy some drugs (glue, tablets, alcohol
or cigare es) or other flee ng pleasures which some mes help to support real
mafias.
Giving the children food instead of money doesnt change anything either, for
they usually resell it for money.
263
Sexual, physical and psychosocial abuses
The needs of all kinds that these children, le to their own devices, have on the
street make them very vulnerable to the approaches of any pedophile or other
predator.
Rela onal and hierarchical structures, which some mes exist between and within
gangs, open the door to abuses, insomuch as you have to be able to elbow your
way up and overthrow the others to become a leader.
Violence is there, everywhere and all the me, be it sexual, physical, moral or
psychological. In Thamel, we es mate the percentage of children who are the
regular vic ms of sexual abuses at more than 40%. This phenomenon takes root
in a specific social context: an area in which the child lives near travelers, some
of which think that, at the other end of the earth, it is normal to abuse a child.
The Thamel children are considered as poten al criminals by the authori es. Their
need for money, medical care, a en on and food make them very vulnerable
to the approaches of any pedophile, be he a foreigner, a Nepali or from his own
environment.
There are many dierent factors which make abuses easier on the street on
the youngest by the oldest. On the street, children are le unsupervised from
an early age and are part of a group. Without any specific educa onal model,
they are readily exposed to violence which they trivialize and normalize. At night,
rapes and sexual abuses are commonplace if there is no social worker to supervise
the situa on.
264
Despite their suering, the children who are the vic ms of sexual abuse quickly
get used to it because the context they live in forces them to trivialize and
normalize this prac ce. Worse, it is out of the ques on to men on it to anybody
in Nepal, sex and sexuality being hugely taboo. It takes a lot of me to talk about
it unashamedly! Many children who were the vic ms of physical, sexual or mental
violence suer from important psychological and psychosocial problems such as
a lack of confidence, a lack of self-esteem, a feeling of insecurity and the feeling
of never being able to be loved.
There is some kind of trivializa on of such facts and it is a tragedy.
The nearly complete impunity most abusers have is also a tragedy which we
should quickly address.
265
Forge ng ones family and turning down NGOs support:
Life in Thamel is something of a big game. Even if suerings are real, drugs and
pleasures durably trap the child in a distorted reality. Thamel cannot be compared
to the other areas where street children live, its atmosphere being so specific and,
in a way, almost addic ve. The child retreats into his gang and in a parallel world,
far away from Nepali reali es, next to the luxury and freedom of this tourist and
seemingly carefree world. Once integrated into the world of Thamel, it is really
hard to go back to ones family or to turn to an NGO. A child once told us that
Thamel is too much: too much pleasure, too much money, too many abuses,
too many drugs, too much freedom, etc.
A child who is already socially unstructured rebuilds himself there in a non-

standard way and in a complete framework (musical, social, aec ve, norma ve)
which is completely dierent from what he knew and lived in before.
266
By Simone Galimber
Former Deputy Country Director CCS (ITALY)
Bridging the gap between different planets

Visible as they are, it is no easy job pretending not to see the mul tude of street
children in Kathmandu. People might try to ignore them in the same way we
o en do while dealing with other cases of childhood depriva on: the children
working in the tempo that we take on a daily basis or the children working in
the local restaurant behind the corner of our house or the thousands of children
involved in domes c work.
Children living or working in the streets (this concept is a new defini on a emp ng
to break with the use of an unfair and unjust terminology), represents a unique
social group with specific needs and demands centered around their rela onship,
or be er s ll, their connec on with the street, the place they call home.
It is indeed extremely challenging to fully understand and comprehend the push

and pull factors at the founda on of delicate and sensi ve situa ons that abruptly
break the pa erns of a decent and ordinary childhood for thousands of children
from all around the country. They are vic ms of depriva on, abuse and abject
poverty.
To be clear, it is not just about poverty. There is mul tude of circumstances that
might drag a child into despair and consequen ally to a physiological breakdown
in which the street ends up represen ng the only escape. Unfortunately and
unknowingly, children find themselves in a spiral without an apparent exit.
Ironically, the street and the group dimension associated with it actually represents
some sort of safety net for these children; vic ms of an apparent unassailable
layer of vulnerability and indierence that wrap them up all over, insula ng
them from our reality.
Yes it is indeed about our world and theirs, two pre y dierent planets that
International perspective by Simone Galimberti
267
func on side by side, some mes crisscrossing and overlapping with each other.
Our World, is doing its best to avoid and escape from the other World. Isnt
all this understandable and jus fiable to some extent? A er all, children living
or working in the streets stop being real human beings as their safety net, the
street, strips them of any formally recognized right as inescapable, a sine qua
non condi on to be part of the club.
From our side, from the planet that preaches about the UN Conven on on the
Rights of children, we really do our best to erase any sense of remorse that
s ll might func on in the depth of our conscience when a so called street child
approaches us.
I personally felt unsafe and insecure once, many years back in Cape Town, South
Africa, where as a young student doing her thesis, was searching for a lodging.
Surrounded by a small gang of poor black children threatening with s cks, I
managed to run away and avoid falling prey to their despair and anger. Scared
the way I was, once I managed to reach the entrance of a bar, I started thinking
about the thousands of children living or working in the streets who are vic ms
of a puni ve policing that perpetuate oenses rather than oering a first stepping
stone towards a decent way of living.
At the end of the day, werent they exercising, in their own way, according to the
rules of the street, their own right to survival?
Fortunately for Nepal, children in the street here behave quite well: they get on
with glue, they live from begging thanks to a mul tude of sympathe c tourists
that s ll have not learned how to ignore them. In few words, despite the vacuum
that separates the street reality from mine and yours, street children here
manage to maintain some sort of decorum, something that is, a er all, acceptable.
S ll, most of the people like me and you tend to ignore them, thanks to some
sort of special magic that would well suit some of the characters from the Harry
Po ers sagas: we turn them invisible. This works well.
They approach you, they follow you, begging for something and we obviously
presume that whatever they collect is going be used for more glue and we are
convinced that avoiding them helps breaking their dependency with the street.
268
We awesomely manage to do away with them, while at the same me, we feel
puzzled on the way some young freak foreign tourists enjoy their company and
have fun, playing with them in the streets of Thamel.
What else should we do? Should we encourage a lifelong habit, like begging,
that is leading to lifelong dependency? Should we just throw some nice words at
them that obviously they tend to ignore because it is something else they want
from us? Is it really like this? What should we do in these cases? How do we,
decent people, possibly and probably involved in the development sector, keep
handling these stressful situa ons? I, myself, do not know the right answer.
Each of us has his own coping mechanism that does nothing more than strengthen
the sense of isola on and depriva on experienced by the children in what is an
already rich menu of op ons available on the street.
I wish we could all be not simply so-called aid workers but be real social workers
that are professionally trained to manage these kinds of situa ons. I wish every
ci zen could feel proud of mastering some sort of informal social worker skills.
Altruism, compassion and spirit of service towards the Other should be solid
enough values to start caring about the others and change a bit of society. Children
living and working in the street can oer a first chance of redemp on.
A social worker should be able to fill the gap between the street child planet
and the ordinary/decent people planet. I wish prac ces and concept of social
work were embedded in the curriculum of each educa onal grade and more
importantly in the informal and unwri en set of values that the family, as an
ins tu on, should have the moral obliga on to share with their children.
Family is what street children o en run away from and once again, ironically,
family is what they found in the street. The street, with its code of conduct, with
its interrelated groups dynamics surrounding and regula ng their lives, oers
those pull factors that makes street life so a rac ve. Living in a group, absorbing
the groups dynamic, children can quickly learn and adjust to their new reality
and they start to appreciate it.
Indeed, once you lose your way home and you find some sort of harsh, o en
cruel but at the end of the day, adjustable alterna ve, you feel accomplished,
269
you feel strong, you feel adult despite the early age. Actually you become adult
despite the early age.
Street children are not normal children, neither are they normal human beings,
not any more unfortunately. It takes me, courage and determina on to win them
over and bring them back on what we assume on their behalf, is the right track.
Fortunately, in Nepal, like in many other parts of the world, there are a fair number
of organiza ons, an emana on of a civil society, that are doing their best to limit
as much as possible the push factors and at the same me are trying to make
less sexy the pull determinants. Some of them like Heart Beat are running
en rely on volunteers, others have developed a certain level of professionalism
that requires full- me paid social workers.
It is incredible to come to know the variety of techniques used by these

organiza ons in order to engage the children living or working in the streets,
overcoming that determina on that keep them outsiders. Winning over their
trust and confidence is a precondi on for a gradual, step by step approach that
might lead them to regain their due role in society. Meanwhile, it is paramount
to recognize that while in the street, they are en tled to the same rights as
other children.
O en, what happens is that what is missing is a concerted eort to avoid the
evil enabling condi ons that make the street the only chance of survival for
thousands of children. What is truly needed is a comprehensive, holis c child
protec on approach, star ng at grassroots level, with a system able to iden fy
and detect the weak components of a community, the seeds of vulnerability that
might degenerate and push the children to the extreme op on of running away
and seek refuge in far away streets of the town. This sort of vulnerability forces
the families to predetermine the future of their children: they will grow up as
skillful domes c or restaurant workers or fare collectors in the local transporta on
industry. They will live on the margins of society; they will marry at an early age;
and they will have children that presumably will remain deprived of mainstream
opportuni es.
Vulnerable and marginalized children deserve not only basic rights but also op ons
and opportuni es to shape their own lives according to their wishes and merits.
270
A possible recipe to ensure this mix of approaches, based on immediate rights
and claims for opportuni es, lies in recognizing the role that the same children
living or working in the street can have as peer educators towards other street
children. At the end of the day, they are not only the problem but part of the
solu on. Their poten al towards the society is enormous as well as it is the
recogni on of their immediate contribu on that can challenge the s gma and
invisibility towards the dark circumstances of street life.
Simone Galimber
271
Conclusions
The interac on between tourists and street children is the mee ng between
two really dierent worlds. Even if there is a common game, adopted posi ons,
communicational habits, the meeting nevertheless gives way to so many
incomprehensions. Both sides have a whole set of clichs, distorted percep ons
and assump ons about the other which the mee ng does not seem to alleviate.
However, the children will con nue to be a racted by the tourists, and vice
versa. First-hand accounts are clear. The children see the tourist as a resource, a
treasure, and his way of living surprises them and they find it a rac ve. For the
tourists, street childhood is a part of the pictures or stories which are almost
mandatory when visi ng a developing country. Everybody has his own li le story
to tell his close rela ves or his colleagues on the misery of the world and the
infernal fate of the children from the other end of the earth.
In this respect, street children are as much a tourist a rac on as in return; tourists
are the actors of a wonderful amusement park for the children. As we have
already said, Thamel has a specific atmosphere, somewhere between Nepal and
the rest of the world and where dozens of cultures associate with one another,
compare themselves, kindly confront one another. The child has grown up with
this universe and tries to integrate with it, but he has to do it through the group,
the one of the streets, the gang, which he has to follow and help.
The street workers of the NGOs are unanimous: the Thamel street children are
not like the others, they live dierently, have a dierent link to money and to the
country. Some will get out of it by becoming a guide or something, but many will
only find their way out of Thamel through jail or an overdose. A more accurate
understanding of this a achment to Thamel is no doubt necessary when one
wants to find long-las ng answers to this tragic situa on. Anyway, this was the
goal of our work: to try to approach, see how these two worlds look at themselves,
observe eachother, and finally interact on a daily basis.
We thus dont have any real conclusion to oer, since our work is an observa on,
a cri cal review of one or should we say several situa ons of interac ons
between two worlds, the encouter between adults and children, old and young,
those who have a lot and those who have nothing, those from here and those
from over there so dierent but however so similar.
272
CONCLUSIONS
CPCS
273
ARTICLE 40 (CRC) : Children accused of a crime
shall be presumed innocent, have the right to a fair
hearing and must be of a minimum age
Legal protec on for street children does not exist. They can be arrested
without any probe. Very young children are some mes accused of crimes
and denied any support or legal advice.
274
Which conclusion can we draw?
We tried to do a more or less complete outline of the situa on of the youth or
child in a street situa on in Nepal. We highlighted a wide range of approaches
and visions which would give the reader not only concrete explana ons from the
field, but also various reflec ons which confirm the diversity and the richness of
this street world of which we tried to open the door partway.
Without claiming having been exhaus ve (could we?), we think we dug as far as
we could to succeed in wri ng a coherent and understandable book. We think
or hope we highlighted this incredible diversity of reali es, and therefore this
essen al need for any actor who shows interest in these children or youth in a
street situa on not to stop at a stereotyped vision of them.
Our ques oning, our subject, was about the social, cultural and communica onal
prac ces and characteris cs among the children and youth in a street situa on
in Nepal.
Conclusions
275
To conclude, let us now go back to the elements which, to
us, seem the most revealing about the real situa on of these
children and youth, chapter by chapter:
Introduction:
O To commence, we adopted the defini on of street children as children

in street situa ons. This recognized that the children are individuals and
their situa ons are all unique.
O More than two-thirds of the children were aged between 11 and 16, whilst
4% were less than 10 years old. 20% of the children were aged between 17
and 18 years old. 7% were female and 93% were male. 72% have already
spent more than 2 years in the street with 81% of these street children
being 13 years or older.
O Society rejects children in street situa ons because they are unsociable,
and the children are unsociable because society rejects them. They are
s ll children, but they have had to adopt some adult behavior in order to
face their dicult environment. Feeling unaccepted by society, they form
a parallel society (normally within groups or gangs) with its own codes,
its language features and its own rituals, which includes sning glue and
taking drugs.
O These groups oer the child protec on, welfare, confidence and solidarity.
Its values and systems become the basis upon which the child develops
his iden ty, which is also strongly linked to the survival condi ons of the
street. Within his gang, he sees himself as a leader and a free individual
who has his own role to play.

276
Chapter 1:
O The story of each child in a street situa on is dierent but the vicious cycle
of poverty is a constant.
O Rela onships with the family past, present and future are the key to
the lives and livelihood of the children. A er me on the street, the street
family gradually replaces the hereditary family.
O Gaining the trust of children in a street situa on is paramount. Once you

have their trust you can gain their respect. Only then, a er gaining their
confidence, can one reach out and assist them with their needs.
O Loss of freedom is a primary reason why most children do not want to get
out of the streets. Fair propor ons are ready to accept rehabilita on but
very few want to live or return to their village. The first preference seems
to be: get rehabilitated, get a job and a room, but in their home, the city.
Chapter 2:
O The freedoms of rag picking make it the job of choice for the majority of
the street children.
O A high majority of the children regularly worked at night, placing them

at greater risk to abuse and exploita on. In par cular, 86% of rag pickers
con nue to work around the clock. 62% of beggars work at night.
O Earnings as a beggar can be a lo ery with 61% earning less than 200 rupees,
but 11% earning more than 500 rupees per day.
O Saving money and sending it home has been dicult for children in a street
situa on.
O The work carried out by children in a street situa on is done out of and
for daily survival strategies. Paradoxically, law enforcement agents are
Conclusions
277
frustrated with and thus punish the street children for their ac ons, rather
than protec ng them from exploita on or penalizing the ini al lawbreakers
their employers.
Chapter 3:
O Substance use is very common among street children not just in Nepal
but endemic around the globe.
O Street children as young as nine are smoking ganja; 35% of 13 year olds
and 60% of street youth regularly smoke ganja. Children from the age of
six are regularly sning glue.
O The cri cal ages for many street children to use glue seem to be between
9 and 13. It is here that between 25 and 35% of the children have not tried
sning glue. The addic on may be circumvented if preven on, interven on
and harm reduc on services and ac vi es are provided quickly enough.
O As long as the children perceive no viable alterna ves in the real world;
substances will con nue to help them see what we want to see. It forms
part of a daily resilience concept.
O The key for interven on and for preven on to succeed seems to be in

understanding why substances are used. They are used to both hide
and solve problems, as well as replacing something that is missing an
emp ness or longing.
Chapter 4:
O Street children live under constant fear of emo onal abuse (threats and
humilia on) but the threats o en result in severe bea ngs and physical
abuse. The major perpetrators are police, security guards and street youth.
To a lesser extent, fellow street children are also involved in abuse.
O Society turns a blind eye to the internal abuses that occur within the street
gangs/groups. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the general popula on, for

278
whatever the mo va on, prefer not to deal with the injus ces displayed
in the parallel world or culture of the street.
O Sexual rela onships with penetra on (forced and own choice) drama cally
increase for street children 14 years and older. It is inconclusive which
occurs first. Group or gang culture (fi ng in) seems to influence children
in performing sexual acts.
O Children in street situa ons seem to have formed clear dis nc ons between
love and sex. One senses there is no union between the two as love may be
an obscure roman c concept and sex is linked to abuse and a method to
earn money. As expressed by Kaufmann is it really possible to talk about
love in a life made up of violence?
O Rana reminded us that as well as being vic ms, children in a street situa on
are also resilient, resourceful and ac ve agents of their lives. They are
survivors.
O Street children use NGOs to fulfill their needs. Keeping that in mind, when
framing ac vi es and resources for street children, they need to be molded
with a child-centred approach. NGOs must tap into the childs abili es,
interests and needs. This will strengthen their mo va on to posi vely
change their lives. They must see that a life o the streets is be er than
on it.
Chapter 5:
O The gang or group has a great level of importance in the street childs or
youths everyday life. The gang is something of a social support; it replaces
the family, the adults and authority, oers rules, structure and, above all,
a real protec on.
O A street childs role and place in a gang significantly contributes to his

iden ty forma on. Although some see their self-image in ambiguous ways:
considering themselves as dirt but also sees themselves as leaders, free
individuals and as role players.
Conclusions
279
O Being in a group leads to street children being involved in ac vi es that
children would not normally do. These included taking drugs together and
being involved in sexual rela onships.
O 87% of the street children had visited Non Governmental Organiza ons
(NGOs) o en. Similarly, 78% o en slept at a NGO. 66% reported that they
regularly visit dierent NGOs. 89% think NGOs are helping street children
in appropriate ways.
O The role and rela onship that youth workers or social workers play in the
field cannot be underes mated. As a witness-actor they understand
what the children in a street situa on are going through and their roles
are key to building the bridge between the two worlds the children live in.
Chapter 6:
O The child or youth in the street situa on is s ll proud of being a Nepali, even if
going abroad would be temp ng should he have the opportunity. Patrio sm is
extremely high with 93% indica ng they love being a Nepali and 86% thinking
Nepal is a nice country and know the na onal anthem. On the other hand, just
over half feel concerned about what happens in Nepal. Even less (19%) care
about what happens globally.
O Many children changed their name, because of the caste system or to flee either
their family or the authori es. Being isolated on the street, it is appealing for
the child to change his social posi on simply by changing his last name.
O Like all things in the street situa on, tradi ons and religion are flexible and
adaptable. The child s ll shows some respect for what he acquired from his
parents and keeps in touch with religion, but has no dicul es altering them.
The child may conveniently change them if it is advantageous to his survival.
O Acharya refered to street children suering from an iden ty crisis by not

being part of the normal society and what they learn in the street as faulty
socializa on. This, as well as the summary of points above, has helped reshape
the childrens overall iden ty.

280
Chapter 7:
O Most of the street children have experienced situations of abuses, crises,
violence or extreme poverty in their family. They reach a point where they see
their current street situa on as a be er one and as a perspec ve that could
last (for lack of any other possibility). For this reason, many of them envision a
future on the street.
O 15% of the street children have never been to school and only 9% have completed
a primary school educa on. Over 40% had stayed in school un l grades 3 to 5,
except those aged 10 to 12. They were well under 30%.
O Educa onal classes given by NGOs are very popular and 51% reported that
they would like to go back to school. For the street youth (in par cular the 17
and 18 year olds) over 90% would prefer to learn a skill or be in training.
O Having said that, the children in a street situa on are really disappointed by
the organiza ons which oer training or school alterna ves. It is ques onable
whether or not the child or youth is commi ed to educa on, instead focusing
on what is possible in his environment. He is aware that having a good life on
the street is not completely possible, but has got his habits, friends, tempta ons
and he is a ached to them.
O The street and its dicul es are also turned into a childs game, a story. One
tells of the adventures and makes light of the suerings. One talks about the
death of close friends or rela ves with extraordinary detachment. Drugs play
an important role in allowing them to forget and the child carefreeness remains
an important factor of this ability of resiliency.
Chapter 8:
O The micro study of the Thamel district oers unique insights into the inter-
rela onships and complexi es between all actors involved. The study looks
at the links that develop and the feelings generated by the forced contact
of the two parallel worlds.
Conclusions
281
O There is a common game, with adopted posi ons and communica onal
habits. The mee ng nevertheless gives way to much incomprehension.
Both sides have a whole set of clichs, distorted perceptions and
assumptions about the other which the encounters do not seem to
alleviate.
O Thamel can feel like a circus of sorts. The children will con nue to be
a racted by the tourists, and vice versa. For the tourists, street children
are part of images and stories which are mandatory when visi ng a
developing country. The children see the tourist as a resource and a
treasure. They find the tourists ways of living a surprise, exotic and
appealing.
O The Thamel encounters again highlight just how complex it is for NGOs to
work with children in street situa ons. Why would they want to change
out of their world when life is full of suprises (and hidden abuses)? What
could be more exci ng than living in the moment, with all your friends
and support networks? Could any NGO really oer them more?
O Finally, arent all these dierent chapters, the first-hand accounts of those
children, their lives, and thus this book as whole, evidence that those
children cannot be considered as a uniform group?
Finally, we categorically conclude that the street child in Nepal only exists in the
mind of those who think they understand, support or analyze him.
Would this asser on make any analysis, any interven on, any support impossible?
On the contrary! But it forces us to consider the complexity of the phenomenon as
central in every ac on concerning these lives crossed on the sides of the streets
They are not vic ms, nor are they guilty. These lives just reflect a world which
likes to categorize what cannot be when one cannot jus fy it. There is no ra onal
or complete explana on which would enable to explain why, on the streets of
Nepal and elsewhere, so many children or youth survive!
The street child sells, the street child is a myth, the street child only exists in
individual stories, case by case, life by life.

282
METHODOLOGY,
DIFFICULTIES
&
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CPCS
283
ARTICLE 16 (CRC) : No child shall be subjected to
arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her
privacy nor to unlawful a acks on his or her
honour and reputa on.
Many mes, street children are insulted and psychologically abused, scared,
terrorized by persons who are afraid of them or who dont recognize that
they are s ll children despite their way of life.

284
METHODOLOGY AND DIFFICULTIES
This book is based on a research that was ini ated by CPCS in April 2012. It
has been mo vated and influenced by the years of experience, knowledge and
rela onships the CPCS team has developed with street-living youth and children.
This study is based on the 3 following sources of data:
1. Data from observa on. Our years of work with these children enabled us
to observe their behaviors, their habits, their reac ons. We partly use this
knowledge in the text.
2. Data from semi-direc ve or free discussions. More than a hundred mee ngs
were organized with the children or youth and enabled to approach
dierent subjects in an open and friendly way.
3. Data collected with a ques onnaire. 302 children accepted to answer a

ques onnaire. Our quan ta ve data come from these answers.
Our study is thus essen ally based on qualita ve data from our observa ons
and from open discussions, but also on quan ta ve data which were checked
and compared.
So, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for the study. A
structured ques onnaire, developed by CPCS, was used for quan ta ve data
collec on in May and June 2012.
Informal and semistructured interviews were conducted in July and August 2012
to collect qualita ve and quan ta ve informa on, as well as observa on reports
from field workers. Various addi onal points of view and analyses on the dierent
subjects and chapters by professionals were collected subsequently in August
2012.
Data Collec on
A ques onnaire designed by the author under the supervision of Mr Reyniers from
the UCL University (Universit Catholique de Louvain Belgium) was conducted
with 302 street-living children or youths who voluntarily par cipated.
Methodology, Difficulties & Bibliography
285
Children who already a end CPCS shelters/centers par cipated, as well as children
who were mo vated by field workers to come to par cipate in the study.
These children came from all around Nepal and data were collected in the
following ci es: Kathmandu, Patan, Banepa, Narayangadh, Butwal, Hetauda,
Itahari, Biratnagar, Pokhara, and Birtamod.
A prototype ques onnaire was developed by the CPCS team and tested on a
group of twenty children. Necessary changes were made and training conducted
with a team of data collectors.
A total of eight data collectors who had worked extensively with street children
were divided into three separate groups and conducted the ques onnaires over
a period of two months. Completed ques onnaires were con nuously reviewed
to ensure their consistency.
Interviewers made themselves available from morning to late evening with the
added support of the en re CPCS team and monitoring by the Research Director
and Research Coordina on Commi ee to ensure that the children voluntarily
par cipated and that data were reliable and valid.
Ques onnaires were only conducted with the children who were ready to respond
and felt a sense of trust with the data collectors.
Qualita ve informa on in the form of informal discussions and semistructured

interviews was obtained by the field workers and educators. Observa ons from
these field workers and educators were also documented.
Data Management and Analysis

A prefiltering was done with all the collected ques onnaires. Any ques onnaire
that did not match the following three criteria was rejected:
1. Is the child living and working on the street with limited or inexistent
contact with his/her family?
2. Is the ques onnaire complete?
3. Is the child or youth less than 18 years old?

286
The remaining ques onnaires were entered into a database and analyzed using
the SPSS sta s cal so ware system. Univariate and Bivariate Data Analyses were
performed.
Qualita ve informa on from interviews, case studies and field worker observa ons
were analysed and studied manually. Quota ons were selected according to their
significance in each subject area.
Dicul es and limits of this study:

The final goal is double and it obviously represents an asset, but also a diculty.
The idea is to succeed in wri ng a paper which would not only be relevant to
help people understand the phenomenon of street children, but which would
also be able to directly help the future interven ons/projects with these very
children and youth.
This need for interven on which follows the study is certainly something which
aects the study and even its results. We understand the possible re cences even
if we dont share them. The anthroposociology our study claims to be a part of
is not an accurate science and cannot be disconnected from the involvements,
debates, claims, recogni on, ques onings it (or its claims) raises. Anyway, that
is our opinion. Are the absolute scien fic detachment and the total analy cal
objec vity realis c and compa ble with the daily life of the children or youth
who are wandering and suering? According to us, the answer is no, and we thus
consider that it is not nonsense to connect this work with ci zen and societal goals.
The posi on of the author and of the dierent actors of the study represents an
addi onal diculty. Being also ac ve with these children and youth, we are thus
partly away from the neutral posi on of the conven onal researcher. That being
said, we consider that from the moment when this par cularity is clarified in the
possible limits to the study, our approach also oers us an experience which is
based on the long term, on the field, on observa on. Distancing ourselves enough
to ensure that the work is per nent is compa ble with our ac on. Anyway, that
is the challenge we think we succeeded in taking up, from a scien fic and from
a professional point of view.
287
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arjun Appadurai, Aprs le colonialisme, Paris, Edi ons Payot, 2005.
Mark Liechty, Out here in Kathmandu, modernity on the global periphery, Nepal,
Mar n Chautari Press, 2010.
Dynamo Interna onal, Interna onal guide on the methodology of street work
throughout the world, Brussels, 2009.
Jean-Christophe Ryckmans and Krishna Thapa, The Abuse of Street Children in

Kathmandu, Kathmandu, CPCS-VOC, 2008.
Jean-Christophe Ryckmans, The Street Children of Kathmandu, Kathmandu, CPCS,

2007.
Jean-Christophe Ryckmans, A Study of childrens Homes in Nepal, Kathmandu,

CPCS-ACR-CCWB,2009.
Jean-Christophe Ryckmans, Lespoir au bout de la rue, Bruxelles, Memogrames,

2007
Edward T. Hall, The Hidden Dimension, New York, Doubleday & C, 1966.
Olivier Meier, Management Interculturel (4me di on), Paris, Dunod, 2010.
Mar n Nisse, Enfant maltrait, du bon usage de lindiscr on, France, Ramsay,
2004.
Howard S. Becker, Outsiders, France, Edi ons Mtaili, 1985/
Geert Hofstede, Cultures and Organizations, Great Britain, Mc Graw-Hill

Interna onal, 1991.
Trompenaars et Hampden-Turner, Lentreprise mul culturelle (3 me di on),

Paris, Maxima, 2010

288
Daniel Menschaert, Jeunes et associa ons : La rupture ?, Bruxelles, Edi ons Luc
Pire, 1997
Associa ons Prven on Spcialise Nord, Revue de Presse. Forum interna onal
la condi on publique Roubaix, Roubaix, juin 2004.
Bhargava, P. H., The Elimina on of Child Labor: Whose responsibility? A Prac cal
Workbook, New Delhi, 2003, Sage Publica ons India Pvt Ltd.
Child Welfare Scheme and UNESCO, Study of Policies and Programmes Addressing
the Right of Street Children to Educa on. Research report, Kathmandu, May 2005.
Child Welfare Scheme, SathSath and UNESCO Kathmandu, A Study on Knowledge,

A tudes, Prac ces and Beliefs in the Context of HIV/AIDS among Out-of-School
Street-Based Children in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Kathmandu, 2006.
CPCS, Annual Reports, Kathmandu, 2002-2011.
CWIN, Working With Children For Children. Annual reports, Kathmandu, 2004-
2011.
Gosseries, Ph., De Boeve, E., Training guide. Social street work and communica on
towards the media, Baloo asbl and Dynamo interna onal, 2008.
Interna onal Labor Organiza on, Interna onal Programme on the Elimina on
of Child Labor (IPEC) and Central Department of Popula on Studies (CDPS) of
Tribhuvan University of Kathmandu, Nepal. Situa on of Child Rag pickers: a Rapid
Assessment, Geneva, November 2001.
Paroles de rues, Actes du forum interna onal des acteurs cls de lenfance et du
travail de rue, 25,26,27 et 28 novembre 2002, Bruxelles, Dynamo interna onal
et European Network on Street Children.
Proceedings of the Interna onal Forum for stakeholders on street children and
street work, Brussels (Belgium), Dynamo, Dynamo interna onal and the European
network on street children worldwide, 2006.
289
Quivy R., Van Campenhoudt L., Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales, 2eme
ed., Paris, Dunod, 1995.
SathSath and Save the Children UK, A Life without Basic Services: Street Childrens
Say, Kathmandu 2002.
Save the Children Norway, Challenges in realizing the rights of streetbased working
children in Nepal, Kathmandu, February 2004.
Tamang, A. and Fredericks, J., Asylums of exploitation. Internally Displaced

Children in the Worst Forms of Child Labor due the Armed Conflict in Nepal,
Kathmandu, Terre des Hommes Founda on, June 2006.
UNESCO, Sta s cs in Brief: Educa on in Nepal. Website 2007-2011.
World Health Organiza on, A Training Package on Substance Use, Sexual and
Reproduc ve Health including HIV/AIDS and STDs. WHO

290
SOME ACTIVE NGOs
AND GOs IN NEPAL
&
CPCS, ITS ACTION AND
ITS PARTNERS
CPCS
291
ARTICLE 24 (CRC) : All children have the right
to the highest a ainable standards of health
(including access to) primary health care
nutri ous foods and clean drinking water.
Many street children are suering from cuts, diseases and are denied
treatment. The NGOs exist to grant them access to basic facili es, basic
educa on, basic health care.

292
Some Active NGOs and GOs in Nepal
APC-Nepal (Associa on for Protec on of children) Nepal

Dallu, Kathmandu
PO Box 13439
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4266186, 9851054578
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.apc-nepal.org
CENTRAL CHILD WELFARE BOARD (CCWB)

Harihara Bhawan, Lalitpur
Phone: 5010045, 5010046, 5539211
Fax: +977-1-5527591
Website: www.ccwb.gov.np
CONCERN for Children and Environment - Nepal

Dallu Aabash Siddhartha Marg G.P.O. Box: 4543,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Phone: 4277033, 4288253
Fax: +977-1-4289432
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.concern.com.np
CPCS (Child Protec on Centers and Services)

Dillibazar Pipalbot, Kathmandu, Nepal
Post Box No: 8975, EPC 5173
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 01.4414394
Website: www.cpcs-nepal.org
Emergency line: 4411000
Some Active NGOs and GOs in Nepal & CPCS, Its Action & Its Partners
293
CWCN (Child Watabaran Center, Nepal)
Sinamagal, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 8975, EPC 4194
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4498924
Website: www.watabaran.com
CWIN (Child Workers in Nepal)

Ravi Bhawan, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4282255, 4278064
Website: www.cwin.org.np
CWSN (Child Welfare Scheme Nepal)

Pokhara Nepal
Phone: 061202616,432087
Fax 061-432210
[email protected]
Website: www.cwsn.org
Diyalo Pariwar
Chitwan Nepal
Phone: 056-521828 056-233031
Fax:0977-56-522797
Website : www.diyalopariwar.org.np
Juvenile Oender Correc on Home

Address: Sanothimi, GPO Box: 1286, Ktm
Bhaktapur, NEPAL
Phone: 6635135, 6630388
Fax: +977-1-6663129
Kids Shangrila Home

Boudha, Aarubari, Kathmandu
Phone: 4478157
Website: www.shangrilahome.be
294
NAOSCNepal (Na onal Alliance of Organiza on working for
Street Children)
Secretariat Oce:
PO Box: 10589, Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal
[email protected]
977-1-6218565
h p://www.naosc.org.np
Na onal Center For Children at Risk

(Khoj Talas)
Bhriku mandap, Kathmandu
Phone: 4226006
Nawa Asha Ghriha (NAG)

Bansbari, Kathmandu
Phone: 4372975, 5521238
Website:www.englishwebservices.ch/NAG/Nag.htm
PRAYAS
Address Pingansthan, Gaushala ,Kathmandu
Phone:4478402
Email:[email protected]
Website:ww.prayas.org.np
Saathi
Address: Ekantakuna, Bhanimandal GPO Box: 7770, Ltp
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 5000063,5000074
Fax: 977-1-50000160
Website: www.saathi.org.np
SAHARA Group
Bashundhara Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4365216
GPO Box: 13853
Website: www.saharagroup.org.np
295
Sath Sath
Sangham chowk New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
Phone: 4472349
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.sathsath.org
Tiom Laura
Address Jorpa 5 Bahundhara Kathamandu
Phone: 4915276
Website: h p://www.straatkinderenvankathmandu.nl
Under Privileged Children Associa on (UPCA)

Dharan Nepal
Phone: 025 521838
Fax: 0977-25-530864
Email: [email protected],[email protected]
Website: www.upca.org.np
Voice of children (VOC)

G.P.O Box: 8975 EPC 1936
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone:5548018/5548619 Fax 977- 5551573
Website: www.voiceofchildren.org.np
Women and Children Service Centers

Control nbr: 100
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.nepalpolice.gov.np

296
CPCS, ITS ACTION AND ITS PARTNERS
CPCS was founded in 2002 to answer the childrens needs on the streets of Nepal.
Every year, a lot of children, a racted by the allures of the big city, leave their
villages. Once there, they discover the harsh reali es of life on the streets and
are le to their own devices to face mul ple forms of danger and abuse (mental,
sexual and physical).
CPCS was created to support these children and youth and to prevent more
children from ending up on the streets.
The organiza ons work can be divided into three steps:
1. Preven on (prior to and during the street life): set of interven ons focused
in two ways:
- prevent and, if possible, avoid the arrival of the child on the street;
- raise awareness among the general public, the families and the children
themselves about the reali es of a life on the street (its causes, its daily
rou nes and its consequences).
2. Risk reduc on (during the street life): short-term perspec ve focusing on
the immediate reduc on of the dangers of street life.
3. Social rehabilita on (a er the street life): long-term perspec ve focusing
on progressive and eventual reintegra on of a child into society.
Our organiza on currently has eight centers in the Kathmandu Valley and twenty-
five other regional centers where CLASS (CPCS Local Ac on Support and Services)
programs are being held.
Daily, up to 850 children are being helped by our organiza ons ac vi es, 400 to
500 children are supported by our socializa on or rehabilita on centers, 1300
ex-street children and children at risks go to school and several dozens receive
medical care or legal support.
297
CPCSs main Working Partners are:
The Simons Founda on (United States)

Ecpat (Luxembourg)
The American Himalayan Founda on (United States)
Les amis de Sur Emmanuelle (Belgium)
The Vieujant Founda on (Belgium)
Dynamo Interna onal
The Benina Founda on
La Chaine de lEspoir (France)
Sourires de Katmandou (France)
Addi onal regular CPCS Partners are:
Loisirs et Missions NPO (Belgium)

Lies Fund (Holland)
Siban Charity (England)
SOS enfants abandonns (Belgium)
Werkgroep (Shangrila Children Academy) (Belgium)
Les greniers de Katmandou (Belgium)
Vie denfant-Kinderleven (Belgium)
Europe Tiers-Monde (ETM)
The Cornelis Family

298
CPCS (Child Protec on Centers and Services)
In Nepal:
Phone: 00977-16-224660
Email: interna [email protected], [email protected]
Emergency Line Number (24hrs medical care and legal support for street children):
00977-1-4411000
In Europe:
Address: 7A Rue de Larmont 5377 Noiseux Belgium
Phone: 0032 86 36 66 74
E-mail: interna [email protected]
Website: www.cpcs-int.org
Join us on Facebook: Group Friends of CPCS
To make a dona on:
CPCS Interna onal

Address : 7A Rue de Larmont
5377 Noiseux, Belgium
Account Nbr : 734-0107571-07
IBAN : BE74 7340 1075 7107
Swi Code : KREDBEBB
Or in Nepal : Account number: 001 050101027 28

Bank : Nepal Investment Bank (Swi : NIBLNPKT)
299
November 2012, First Edi on
Copyright CPCS Interna onal
All rights reserved. No part of this publica on may be reproduced in any form without
the prior authorisa on from CPCS Interna onal.
Published by:
CPCS Interna onal
www.cpcs-int.org
Price:
NRs: 500.00
Price (out of Nepal / including transporta on costs)

Euros: 15.00
Dollars: 18.00
All benefits of the book will be used for street children related programs
ISBN: 9789994623839
Design, Producon and Markeng by:

Ul mate Marke ng (P.) Ltd
THE STREET CHILDREN
THE STREET CHILDREN OF NEPAL

OF NEPAL
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THE STREET CHILDREN

THE STREET CHILDREN OF NEPAL

Copyright CPCS Interna onal

Price (out of Nepal / including transporta on costs)

Design, Producon and Markeng by:

Anthroposociological Study of Social, Cultural and

Author and Research Director: Jean-Christophe Ryckmans

Illustrator (drawings): Santosh Rai

The Street Children of Nepal

By the Honourable Doctor Baburam Bha arai, Prime Minister of Nepal | 6

By the Honourable Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium | 7

By His Excellency, Jean-Charles Demarquis, Ambassador of France in Nepal | 8

Street children: limita ons and risks of such a defini on | 18

Quan ta ve approach: analysis of the sta s cal data | 21

Qualita ve approach: observa on and first-hand accounts | 25

Case-by-case visions instead of a general defini on | 31

Introduc on of the chapters in this study | 33

Na onal perspec ve by Madhav Pradhan, President - CWIN (NEPAL) | 35

Na onal perspec ve by Krishna Thapa, President - VOC (NEPAL) | 37

Interna onal perspec ve by Edwin de Boev, Coordinator Interna onal Network

The Street Children of Nepal

CHAPTER 2: The working condi ons and daily ac vi es | 69

CHAPTER 3: The use of drugs | 89

CHAPTER 4: Sexuality, vulnerability to abuses and other risks | 107

CHAPTER 5: Social context, group iden ty and conflicts | 141

The Street Children of Nepal

METHODOLOGY, DIFFICULTIES & BIBLIOGRAPHY | 283

(Dr. Baburam Bha arai)

The Street Children of Nepal

Opening Jean-Christophe Ryckmans book awoke in me the memory of a moment

The Street Children of Nepal

The publica on of the study on The Street Children of Nepal is an eye-opener

The Street Children of Nepal

Anthroposociological Study of Social, Cultural and

The Street Children of Nepal

Let us finish this preface with a li le sentence to ponder on:

The Street Children of Nepal

We sincerely thank the Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, Dr. Baburam

The Street Children of Nepal

BASIC PROFILE OF STREET CHILDREN AND

As for UNICEF, they make a dis nc on between two significant categories:

1. Children on the street:

2. Children of the street:

Street children: limitations and risks of such a definition

Age of the children

In regard to the sex of the children, an overwhelming majority of the children

Time spent on street

S.N Loca on Total Nbr of Street Total Nbr of Street

Qualitative approach: observation and first-hand accounts

Qualitative approach: observation and first-hand accounts

Qualitative approach: observation and first-hand accounts

Dhiraj (13 years):

Phurba (17 years):

Chhabilal (18 years):

I went to an organiza on but couldnt stay there for a long me because of my

Bisal Gurung (12 years):

Case-by-case visions instead of a general defini on

1. Where does he come from? What is his past?

Chapter 1: A journey to the street (where does he come from?)

Chapter 2: The working condi ons and daily ac vi es