As NYF approaches 20 years of essential work with the freed Kamlari that you’ve helped support, our special focus in 2018, 2019, and 2020 is fully transitioning the management of the Empowering Freed Kamlari (EFK) program to the Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF) leadership themselves. Investing in the FKDF through specialized trainings, micro loan and cooperative support, and ongoing NYF guidance are critical to successfully transitioning the program.
With NYF support, the Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF) is growing into an influential NGO in Nepal. Run by elected Freed Kamlari leadership themselves, in 2018, the organization succeeded in lobbying the Nepali government to provide increased educational scholarships for some of the most desperately marginalized girls.
With NYF guidance, the FKDF are developing their 42 cooperatives into 'model cooperatives', ensuring that they meet all standards of operation and self- sufficiency based on Nepal’s National Cooperative Guidelines. So far, 30 cooperatives have acquired this status.
NYF also facilitated a networking event this past year between FKDF leadership and Nepal’s parliamentary election candidates. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about Kamlari causes among Nepal’s influential leadership, an effort in which the 120 freed Kamlari attendees were very successful.
NYF has rescued almost 13,000 girls from Kamlari since launching the program in 2000. While the practice was officially banned in 2013, our staff has continued to locate and rescue girls trapped in illegal conditions. With NYF support, the FKDF worked persistently in 2018 to rescue 63 girls who are now safe, enrolled in school or vocational training, and building a brighter future.
Your support truly transforms lives. Thank you!
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Now 21, Jyoti started working as a Kamlari (indentured child servant) when she was only nine years old.
In her own words:
"I worked as a Kamlari for 3 years until I was rescued by NYF. After rescue I studied through grade 10 with support from NYF. After grade 10 I could not do further studies. I was not sure what I would do for a living. I then heard about the vocational training opportunities by NYF through their staff and attended one of the orientation sessions. During the orientation I, along with so many girls like myself, found out about different trades that we could learn and do business in. This gave me immense hope. I chose tea and snacks business training. After the one month training and practice I opened my own food stall. I received a food stall and supplies to set up the business.
The business is doing very well now. With the income I have also been able to pay some debt that we had taken for building our house. In the future I wish to expand the business and open a restaurant.
I am immensely thankful for this support which has given me so much hope for life."
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In addition to ongoing vocational training for 310 girls like Jyoti, this past quarter NYF continued to transition the management of our Empowering Freed Kamlari program to the Freed Kamlari leadership.
With long-term NYF support, the Freed Kamlari Development Forum has established 42 economic cooperatives and 13 savings groups to develop their communities, including providing loans for small businesses.
The co-operatives have grown to 11,777 members which includes Freed Kamlaris as well as their family members.
Your support not only empowers previously indentured child servants, it also helps stimulate the cultural and economic development necessary to ensure that no girl will ever again become a victim of Kamlari.
Dhanyabad!
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From an indentured servant to Policewoman and advocate for other Freed Kamlaris, “Radha” is making waves thanks to the concern and generosity of friends like you.
Born in a remote village in western Nepal, Radha spent much of her childhood in desperation as an indentured servant. She begged her master to allow her to attend school until he finally agreed to send her to take exams. On those few eagerly anticipated days, her family substituted for Radha’s absence at the master’s house.
After she moved with her master to Butwal from Kathmandu, life became miserably hopeless. Without her parents nearby to substitute for her, Radha couldn’t take exams anymore. She was denied her scant annual salary of $40, given scraps to eat, and suffered inhumane treatment for six years.
Thankfully she was rescued by Nepal Youth Foundation. Radha was overjoyed to have the opportunity to attend school every day and studied with newfound determination. She was especially inspired by civic studies because she saw the potential to help others through fair leadership.
Recognizing her value, the Freed Kamalari Development Forum nominated Radha as their President in 2013. She led more than 12,000 Freed Kamlaris for three years with remarkable compassion and courage. Radha is now studying in 12th grade, completed a 9-month training course in the Police force, and was initiated into service in September 2018!
She says, “I would have never had this opportunity to fight on behalf of the entire community of Freed Kamlaris had I not been rescued into this life of freedom. I used to feel that I was living inside a cage. But my life has changed beyond my imagination.”
This profound transformation would not have been possible with your friends like you. Your support of NYF’s Empowering Freed Kamlaris program makes a tremendous difference in the lives of so many young women like Radha. Thank you!
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As you are aware, after spending most of their childhood – a critical period of growth and development – working as indentured domestic servants, the former Kamlari girls have very poor self-esteem and self-confidence. The majority of girls never attended school before their rescue and many struggle academically, illustrating the need for an alternative to traditional education. Out of the 12,871 girls NYF rescued from Kamlari since 2000, approximately 2,300 (18%) are currently in school or college and over 1,800 have completed vocational training programs to date. There are over 10,700 members in 42 business cooperatives.
Of the 350 girls who completed vocational training this past fiscal year, 322 are already employed so far. Among the employed girls, 269 are self-employed. They are earning as much as $4,000-$5,000 annually, a life-transforming impact in a country where 1 in 4 people live on less than $1 a day. Students who recently completed their training are expected to be employed within three months of their graduation date with NYF support.
Rani is one women whose life has been completely transformed thanks to supporters like you.
Coming from an impoverished family of eight who was struggling to survive, “Rani” was sold into indentured servitude at age 14.
She worked as a Kamlari for six years until she was finally rescued by NYF at age 20. Rani was recovering well, got married, and had two children. While her young family was in good spirits, their financial situation was desperate, resulting in her husband’s migration to India to seek employment. Rani carried the overwhelming burden of raising her children alone without a reliable source of income.
Fortunately she learned about NYF’s vocational training program and applied for a 21-day Food Stall Management course. Now, Rani is the proud owner of two thriving businesses: a tea and snacks shop and an adjacent grocery shop. She is earning enough to support her entire family and saving for their future. Her husband returned from India and helps her with the businesses while their children attend a reputable local school.
She says, “I am very grateful to Nepal Youth Foundation for helping me to stand on my own feet.”
Your support makes this possible! Thank you for supporting NYF.
Born into an impoverished family of nine, "Kalpana" never attended school and was indentured into servitude at age 10. She was rescued two years later by NYF and was enrolled in a special course designed to ease her transition to school. Upon successful completion of the course, NYF enrolled her in school where she continued her education through high school, quite an accomplishment.
Through FKDF, Kalpana learned about the NYF-sponsored locally-controlled cooperatives and joined, becoming eligible for microloans. She attended NYF’s orientation on vocational training and was accepted into the food stall management program. After completing the training, she returned to her home village and established her own shop with a loan from the co-op. Now, at age 27, she is earning enough to support herself and proudly helps her family.
This life-transforming success was made possible thanks to generous friends like you.
Because you care, young women rescued from indentured servitude -- like Kalpana -- are building powerful new lives. Through NYF’s holistic programs, they overcoming the horrendous suffering they endured in childhood and are receiving they support they need for a productive and dignified adulthood. This includes education, leadership training, micro-loans, cooperative support, psychological counseling, and vocational training.
The Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF), established in 2010 by NYF, empowers Freed Kamlari to become champions of their own causes. The FKDF leadership collaborates with local government agencies to seek essential support, such as investments in the cooperative business loans. The Forum now operates 42 cooperatives with ongoing NYF support. The number of members this past year has grown to 10,935, including Kalpana.
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