Rehabilitate rescued child slaves in Nepal

In my last report, I introduced you to Maya, a former child laborer rescued by GoodWeave five years ago. Maya used to work for hours a day in a dark factory, weaving thousands of knots. Now, she spends her time mentoring other children, singing, and learning karate. She is blooming in this new life, and has high hopes and aspirations for the future. But that transition – from working countless hours in a carpet factory to attending school and focusing on a future – is not easy. Children rescued by GoodWeave often struggle with isolation and depression. They have spent months – sometimes years – without the opportunity to grow and play with others. Understandably, sitting in class while trying to manage this transition into a new world can feel entirely overwhelming.

This is where the GoodWeave team comes in. Every day, I am moved by the dedication I see among staff members in Nepal who care so deeply about the children they support. They work constantly to better meet the complex needs of children in transition. Recently, this manifested in a three-day  training in psycho-social needs assessment, designed to further hone the team’s ability to counsel weavers and children affected by the 2015 earthquakes. The training was hosted in conjunction with the Transcultural Pyschosocial Organization of Nepal by a clinical psychologist, a counselor, and a research officer. Fifteen GoodWeave team members participated, learning tools for handling mental health issues and developing a vision for additional program growth moving forward.  

When I get to meet children like Maya, I am amazed by their resilience and spirit. She and the other children in GoodWeave’s programs have come so far from their time in the dark of factories and loom-sheds. And GoodWeave staff members have been there to help them every step of the way by counseling, teaching, and listening.

As always, thank you for the support that allows our staff to better serve children like Maya. I am deeply grateful, and I look forward to sharing more updates of progress and hope as the year progresses.

Yours sincerely,

Nina