Nepal: A New Life for Street Children
|
Ram (left) and a fellow student listen intently to their teacher during a math class.
|
Ram Adhikari was one year old when his mother died. Soon after, his father brought him to Kathmandu from their native Sindhuli District in central Nepal. In a drunken rage, Ram's father kicked him out onto the streets, where he lived for four years earning between 70¢ and $4 a day recycling plastic. Ram was only eight years old when he was left to fend for himself. "Street life was hard. We couldn't get food or sleep well, and lived in dirty clothes," he says. Ram became depressed and began abusing a substance called dendrite—an inexpensive type of glue readily available at shoe repair shops.
Drug use is just one of the many issues that plague street children. Many also face harassment, violence, and trouble with the law. UNICEF estimates that there are approximately 100 million street children throughout the world, but the exact number could be much higher. The number is likely to continue growing as the population, especially in urban areas, increases.
|
SathSath staff use theater to help street children reintegrate into society.
|
Ram thought he would live on the streets forever, until he heard about SathSath, one of World Education's partner organizations helping children living and working on Kathmandu's streets. SathSath is implementing World Education's model that combines education with life skills and practical information that are relevant to the needs of out-of-school, working children. World Education continues to provide training to SathSath staff on educational methods, monitoring and evaluation, and how to provide psycho-social support to vulnerable youth. Through the program, street children are able to access shelter, emotional support, and an education.
After breaking his leg, Ram decided to seek help from SathSath, where he began a nine-month nonformal education program. He learned about the effects of drug abuse through one class, and with the support of SathSath staff he quit using drugs. Ram also became involved in theater, which SathSath uses to promote positive behavior change in children and encourage their return to mainstream society.
Eventually, Ram learned to read and write, improved his math skills, and is now re-enrolling in grade six along with six friends from SathSath. At the age of 14, Ram is behind academically for his age, but he is focused on doing well in school and making up for lost time. When asked what his favorite subject is and why, he says, "Science, because it's hard!"
|
