Urban Activities

Introduction

"Nepali children and young people face increasing difficulties as the current economic climate and political situation continues to jeopardise their chances of becoming accepted in their society"

Only about 14% of the Nepali population live in urban areas, but the numbers are increasing. Villagers migrate with their families to the cities, hoping for a better life, some attracted by the urban wealth, others fleeing from the on-going violence resulting from the political unrest. Many of them find their dreams shattered and end up living in slum areas. Before the Maoist insurgency it was estimated that there were about 5,000 street children throughout Nepal, increasing by about 1,000 every year.

At the same time, according to university studies, there are now around 3 million child labourers in Nepal, supporting their families, the majority of them without access to health care. These numbers demonstrate the growing problems faced by young people in Nepal as the current economic climate and political situation seriously jeopardises their opportunities to become accepted members of society. CWS/N's urban activities focus on educational and health-related issues of young people and children. The urban activities are:

 
1. JYOTI Vocational Training Centre (JVTC)
 
Through the JYOTI Vocational Training Centre (VTC) we give Nepal's most neglected and disadvantaged youths an opportunities and a second chance in life. The JYOTI Vocational Training Centre's main goal is the long-term social and professional reintegration, emphasising self-sufficiency, of these youths. We are committed to giving them a future. The courses available include Plumbing, Electrical, Computer/Secretarial and Care Giving.
2. Asha Health Care
 

Another urban project focusing on health is Asha Clinic, located in Pokhara and is the only affordable clinic of its kind in Nepal. It provides frontline health care services for the poor and also acts as a gateway to access more advanced services at partner organisations. Asha Clinic was initially established as a referral for cases that were too severe for our Day Care Health Centres.

However, once established we soon found our second target group; the growing number of street children and young people in Pokhara that arising due to the lack of future prospects in the rural areas and the political instability. Asha Clinic now treats an average of 50 patients per day and last year we treated over 18,500 poverty sticken cases. Our main target group is slum and street children under 18 years. Those who can afford it pay a small amount, for others treatment is free.

3. Midway House
 
A socially supported 'independent living' facility, where teenagers and young people from the street and JYOTI VTC get an opportunity to reenter main-stream society by getting social support and guidance when they stand on their own feet for the first time, living independently and holding their first professional job.
4. Street Children Contact Centre
   

This centre first opened in 2004, and its activities to support street children have grown through the participation of the kids themselves. The children manage most of the activities themselves which gives them complete ownership and they learn to take responsibility themselves. Activities inclucde:

  • Contact Centre
  • Non Formal Education
  • On the job training and job placements
  • Children's Development Bank (CDB)
  • Child Journalism (Publish their own newspaper quarterly)
  • Kitchen club (Street children's restaurant)
  • Night Shelter (Protection and safe place to sleep)
  • Outreach Asha mobile health service
  • Children's Radio (Starting shortly)

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