Rehabilitate rescued child slaves in Nepal

Dear Global Giver,

Since January, Hamro Ghar has welcomed the arrival of 51 children (18 girls and 33 boys), serving as a one-stop-shop where child laborers get the comprehensive support they need to begin to imagine a new tomorrow. Among those who currently call Hamro Ghar home is Dorje, the first child remediated under the Better Brick Nepal initiative. As part of their routine inspections of participating brick kilns, GoodWeave inspectors found the 12-year-old boy loading bricks into sacks carried by a donkey. Originally from a poor family in central Nepal, Dorje traveled to India to find work with a friend and escape his abusive father. After meeting a man who managed the donkeys for a brick kiln in Nepal, the boy was trafficked back to his native country where he worked from 5am to 4pm daily, earning less than $30 per month.

Like all children at Hamro Ghar, Dorje received immediate medical care and mental health counseling upon his arrival. He now has a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat, and clothes and shoes to wear. He is eagerly embracing the center’s accelerated learning classes that are designed to help him close the years-long gap in his studies so he will one day be able to join his classmates in public school. Dorje also joined other children at Hamro Ghar in learning about World Environment Day and World Day Against Child Labor in June. Participation in special events like these empower children to tell their stories and learn about their rights and responsibilities to make their communities stronger and safer for all.

While Dorje is happy at Hamro Ghar, he very much misses his grandmother whom he hasn’t seen in over a year. He is looking forward to visiting her with a GoodWeave social program officer soon. We work closely with family members to safely reintegrate former child laborers into their home communities if at all possible. In fact, 34 children have been reunited with their families so far this year. We hope Dorje will be living with his family again soon, at which point we will continue to support his education at his local school and monitor his well-being with periodic visits until he graduates from 10^th grade. But if a safe environment at home does not exist, Hamro Ghar’s doors will remain open to Dorje until he is ready to pursue higher education, vocational training, or seek employment following his education.

With the profound effects of last year’s earthquake and the Indian blockade still being felt across Nepal, the need for comprehensive support services for child laborers remains acute. Hamro Ghar is able to extend these life-changing services to Dorje and so many other children because of your generosity and compassion, and we remain profoundly grateful for your support.

Sincerely,

Nina