NGN/THIS Launches Reintegration Guidelines for Trafficked and Displaced Children : Download

19-March-2015
NGN/THIS Launches Reintegration Guidelines for Trafficked and Displaced Children

© Next Generation Nepal/The Himalayan Innovative Society

March 19, 2015—Next Generation Nepal (NGN) has launched its Reintegration Guidelines for Trafficked and Displaced Children Living in Institutions. The Guidelines are freely available for all individuals and organizations that wish to play a part in the deinstitutionalization of Nepal’s children’s homes.

“The solution for the thousands of children living unnecessarily in orphanages in Nepal is to take them home to their families,” said Martin Punaks, the Country Director for Next Generation Nepal (NGN).

Over 16,000 children live in children’s homes and orphanages in Nepal, despite at least 2 out of 3 of these children not being orphans. The Government of Nepal’s Child Policy is clear that children’s homes should be a last resort and all efforts should be made to keep children with their families. However, children’s homes in Nepal have become a first choice for many families who are deceived by traffickers with promises of a foreign sponsor providing a “good education” at “boarding schools” in Kathmandu.

NGN developed the Guidelines along with its long-standing Nepali implementing partner, The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS). Together they have fully reunified 130 children and reconnected a further 353 children with their families. They have also trained other reputable organizations to establish their own reintegration programs including The Umbrella Foundation and Forget Me Not. NGN and THIS have a 100 percent success rate at family reunification with no child ever being re-trafficked following their return home.

The Guidelines explain in 8 steps how civil society organizations can work with the Government to rescue children from abusive orphanages, rehabilitate them, trace their families, reconnect and reunify them with their families and monitor them so they are not re-displaced.

Tarak Dhital, the Executive Director of Nepal’s Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB), welcomed the release of the Guidelines saying they will be “a good example and reference for others to work in this issue.” He recognized that NGN and THIS, in working closely with CCWB, have “helped some of the most vulnerable children in Nepali society to return to their families where they belong.”

The Guidelines were published with support from Forget Me Not and other donors.

The Guidelines are available to download here:

Reintegration Guidelines for Trafficked and Displaced Children Living in Institutions

Download BOOK IN PDF  : CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

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Interview with THIS Director Dhan Bahadur Lama

Interview with THIS Director Dhan Bahadur Lama from TV Program AAWAJ

Thank you

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Drama - "Chudiyeko Sambandha" - Download

A Street Drama "Chudieko sambandha"(Broken relationship):

This street drama is to raise awareness in order to reduce child-trafficking in the remote district of Humla. It emphasizes the importance of parental care for the overall development of children, physically, emotionally, and socially.  Family separation is the major problem in Humla due to child-trafficking and the search for better education. 

This drama describes a poor family who sent their children with an influential person "Raja Sahib" to Kathmandu and end up finding their child was trafficked for inter-country adoption. It also describes the consequences children face when they are kept in illegal orphanages. It also describes the mental depression of the parents to lose their child forever.

This project is supported by UNICEF and Terre des Hommes Foundations through The Himalayan Innovative Society in Humla.  Our main objective is to reduce child-trafficking and inform the population about family and community-based alternative care in Humla.  This drama has already been performed in three VDCs in the project area and aired on local FM radio, Kailash FM, in Simikot, under the "Humli Chhachhoriko Danko" (Voice of Humli Children) program.  The radio program was supported by the ISIS Foundation.

Listen And  Download 
Episode 1
                                                           Download Link : Click Here to Download Episode 1
Episode  One -2 Final

                                                              Download Link : Click Here to Download Episode 2

Thank you,
The Himalayan Innovative Society-THIS

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A story of a kid dreaming in his classroom

Dhan Bahadur Lama,

DB Lama was born in a middle class shepherd family in a small village of Humla. He was a kind of child who liked to play with clay and makes dolls and cars with it. His elders used to say “This boy doesn’t play with things like his friends do, balls made out of clothes, stones, kappaddi etc. This boy shows some creative behaviour.” 

                                   

In his childhood there was a school about an hours walk above his village. He remembers only a few of his elders going to that School. He was born in a polyandry community where all the family members are engaged in different kinds of professions like, farming, rearing yaks, cows, horses and sheep. Most of the families gave preference to going after the sheep, and yaks. That is why most of his elders do not go to school.

People at that time used to think if he has the greatest number of animals he is rich and would get social respect too. People did not have a positive opinion about education; instead they used to say “Who will give job to my son if I let him go to school? If he goes after the sheep we do not have to employ another person.”

Even if one got permission to go to school, he could not continue it due to family pressure either to follow the family profession or to get married. Once he married, he is bound to fulfill family needs so he would drop out from school.

DB’s grandfather used to be illiterate but he was chosen as the “Mukhiya” (village head) of his village. Later he was chosen as “Upapradhan Panch” (Vice Chairman) of Humla. At his times there were no government offices in Humla. One had to go to Jumla to deposit government tax. During his tenure of pradhanpanch he faced a lot of problem due to being an illiterate person. He needed a person to read out his letters. So he decided to educate his sons and grandsons.

One day, DB was brought to the newly opened school in his village by his grandfather. He also brought a bottle-guard full of Chhyang (barley brew) with butter on the head of the bottle-guard. Later DB realized that it was the celebration of his first day to school. He started with Ka Kha…..- the Nepalese alphabet. When he started to read words and make sentences then there was a problem. There were no books available and DB has to depend on his teacher for the day’s lesson. One day DB got a book that he bought for 5 kilos of wheat. He told his mother and grandmother that he needed 5 kilos of wheat to buy that book. This was the second book that he bought.

DB slowly moved forward with amazing results. At that time the schools used to practice a rote system of learning. He was very bright and used to be the first child to give the test everyday. His teacher was happy with his attitude, and quest for learning. His memory power was amazing.

But one day he had a very harassing experience when his actual teacher went to the district headquarters. On that day the teacher appointed the eldest student for his replacement to run the school in his absence.

As usual DB was almost ready for his test. He had to recite the lesson by heart. But another boy stood before him to give his test. DB was surprised to see his friend who had never been before him. DB watched it thinking that he would not be successful but to DB’s surprise he passed the test. Soon DB realized the substitute teacher showing the book almost open to the boy. DB did not say anything and he prepared for his test. DB did good and passed 75% of his lesson but he got stuck at the end. He couldn’t pass the test but he was confident to pass the second time. Yes, he did very well that time but he was very badly hurt by the act of the substitute teacher. The teacher was not honest in his responsibility. That was the worst day in his school life so he still remembers the day. DB couldn’t resist this and he told this to his younger grandfather when he came home.

His grandfather used to be a very angry person who could not bear such biased actions. In his life he had dangerous fights with the people of Achham and Kalikot district when he was there herding his sheep.

The next morning he was ready to join DB to school. He saw the boy and asked DB if that was the yesterday’s substitute teacher. As soon as he noticed a nod from DB he grabbed the boy by his arm and threw him downhill towards his home. At this moment DB felt guilty for telling the story to his grandfather.

The teacher inquired about the incident; DB told the truth. The teacher asked both DB and the other boy to take their test again. DB passed but the other boy couldn’t pass so he had to repeat the lesson again.

From another point of view, DB was encouraged to keep working hard. His teacher also punished the substitute teacher. DB passed each and every test in first place. He used to know the names of the 75districts in 14 zones of Nepal by heart.

Later his school moved to Thehe. It used to take half an hour downhill to go to his school for DB. At that time there were 5 other older kids going to school also but they used to sneak out and pass time by gambling. They slowly started threatening DB for going to school. Later DB was relieved when a village teacher was transferred to that school. He started going with that teacher daily. Because of no water facility DEO Humla decided to move the school to another location.

Later, it moved to the present Raling High School location. It was much easier for DB to go to School. At this time he had more friends from the neighboring villages. He had 7 friends in his class. He was doing quite well in his class. This was a major turn in DB’s life.

One day the headmaster informed DB to go to the district headquarters to sit for a scholarship exam to go to study in Kathmandu. His family used to rear some cows and his next door boy used to go after the cows. But on this very day his family had to send him to plough the field and asked DB’s family to take turn and go after the cattle. This situation created a huge turmoil in DB’s mind and DB was forced to cope with the situation and find a way out to go to district headquarters to appear in the exams. Since childhood DB never liked going after the cattle. The other thing was that DB’s father, uncles and grandfathers were not at home. His mom and grand mother suggested him to go after the cattle. DB thought that it is definite that his mother and grandmother would send him after the cows rather than let him go to appear for the exams. So now he decided to run away from home: as soon as he had eaten in the morning, he escaped to join his teacher and his friends on their way to the exam. Finally he took all the challenges and risks in search of better education and opportunity to go to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and to choose for education rather then for cattle herding.

After 3 months there was an unclear news “Limi teacher Dhan Bahadur or son of a Limi teacher Dhan Bahadur Lama is selected to go to Kathmandu to study” and DB's father went to Simikot to confirm the news and he came with the good news that DB was selected. When he got the letter saying that it is time to bring DB to Budhanilkantha School (the best school) of Nepal then it took a few days to prepare for the journey to Kathmandu. The date was fixed for just after the Chaitalo festival in Thehe village on 12^th of Fagun, 2034 BS (23^rd of February, 1978). DB also enjoyed his last night with his friends singing “Dueda” after returning from Chaitalo.

At that time the airstrip in Simikot was under construction. The UNDP plane used to drop rice from the sky without landing and make two rounds to drop all the sacks of rice that it carried. It was not possible to fly from Humla to Nepalgunj. So we decided to walk up to Jumla and fly from there. It took us 7 days to reach Jumla crossing snowcapped high passes of Changkheli, Ghuchchi and Danphe Lek. My friend, Jagat, who was also selected for the same opportunity accompanied with us.

When we reached Jumla, it was the King Birendra’s visit to Jumla. It was like a big festival which we enjoyed and saw a helicopter first time in our life.

The next day we flew to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj. On the way to Nepalgunj, DB saw people cycling, driving jeeps and horse cart. It was a very interesting moment for DB. He saw different kinds of means of transportation common in Nepal. He also experienced the heat of the lowlands (Terai) in Nepalgunj.

After refueling, the plane left for Kathmandu. Once in Kathmandu DB’s father was sick due to the long journey by air. DB carried the bag that his father carried for the last 10 days and they moved to Boudha where there a guy from Limi owned a house and whom DB’s father used to know when he was a teacher in Limi. All three DB, Jagat and DB’s father stayed in that house. Next morning, all of the three decided to go to school

When DB and Jagat arrived in the Budhanilkantha School, they met with their friends and went to the store to get clothes and toiletries. Their friends taught them each and every rule and regulation including table habits. They started their lessons from that day.

DB’s father told DB that he would come back again. Each day DB waited at the school gate for his father. He kept doing so for a week as if his father would come to meet him. This shows that for a child his parents are very important. After one week DB told himself that his father had gone home. He spent the rest of the time as usual according to the school schedule.

DB spent seven years in this school and enjoyed all the facility that he got there. He was an average student in the school. He also received the first prize on poetry recitation competition when he was in class 4. During first monsoon month, it was raining heavily and DB was in the classroom. He dreamt of his father and friend who were after the sheep. “I am in the classroom and dry but my friends and my father should be out in the middle of the jungle grazing sheep and goats. It would be a good moment if my friends also got this opportunity as me. We could play together, eat together and have fun together. But……it was not possible because they are illiterate and that’s why they chose to go after the sheep and goats. Even if I could not do anything for my friends now, I will do something for the future generation of Humla. It was DB’s strong determination since childhood to do something for their community and the people. The only thing one can do to make a difference in lives of others is helping someone to acquire education”.

He completed his SLC from there and worked in different NGOs and INGOs. He worked as a principal in a boarding School in Surkhet for 4 years. After that he worked as a Nepali language teacher for expatriates at International Nepal Fellowship. After that he thought that he should go back to his community and work for the people of his birth place. Then he joined with Nepal Trust and work there for 5 years as project Coordinator. During this period, he worked as a Team Leader for trekkers who came to help build health posts, micro-hydro project and renovate monasteries. He also visited different parts of the Mid-western region of Nepal while walking with the trekkers from Jumla to Humla. He learnt a lot and had close understanding of the people of this region. He promised to work in this organization for at least 10 years. But it did not happen. The boss did not like his views of the lower level staff and their benefits.

Later he and his colleague Babita Lama decided to resign from the post and initiated their own organization, The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS). He had to start from the scratch. He started the work with a computer that he bought for his elder son on his birthday. He put all his energy and strength on this, worked day and night. On the 10^th of January 2003, he was successful to get THIS registered at the CDO Kathmandu. He contacted his friends whom he trekked with and worked. He was successful to at least start with 2 small projects. First one was Free SLC tuition class and scholarships to girls and Dalit students. Both the projects did not have any salary or office expenses. Luckily, by the end of August he was successful to tap a project on Community Learning Centers fromUNESCO Kathmandu. In this project, there was the salary for one staff only. He decided to take this as an opportunity and divide the salary with his colleague Babita Lama. They successfully completed the project with a great result.

At this time, Nepal was suffering severely under the Maoist insurgency and it was very difficult for small NGOs like THIS to survive. The project phased out at the end of 2005.

Again the bad days started and for 10 months there was no sign of another project. He kept contacting with different people and organizations for different kinds of opportunities. He received an e-mail from a friend about a conference on women’s right in Sandiego, USA. He decided to send his colleague Babita. She was successful to receive a visa for the conference. DB thought that it would be good to meet with different friends and networks in the US with Babita and she will have more exposure. He wrote to his friends and requested them to provide room to stay during her visit. She was seen off with great love and care. As the US Embassy provided her a 5 year multi-entry visa, she decided to stay there for longer time and sent just a 2 sentenced e-mail saying that she would like to stay for some more time. She continued staying in the US and the next year she also applied for her husband also and both of them are in the US till date.

In November, 2006, there was huge news of child trafficking from the districts of Mid-western region of Nepal. UNICEF also mentioned in its report that about 500 children from different districts of mid-western region have been trafficked. Different I/NGOs decided to work in this field and Central Child Welfare Board, District Child Welfare Board and Nepal Police rescued several children from an illegal children’s home. ISIS decided to help these children and provide care and education to them.

During this time, DB was looking for new projects and was applying wherever there was an opportunity. Once again one day; DB received an e-mail from a friend of him offering a new project on child-related activities. He accepted it and applied for the project on the basis of two staff Babita and himself. He got a sort of green light from the ISIS Foundation. At the same time he got e-mail from his friend Babita saying that she would not come to Nepal for 5 more months. It made DB very sad and DB did not know what to do. He thought that the opportunity be lost. He immediately decided to inform ISIS foundation and change the project staff due to Babita’s absence. ISIS also considered on his request to change the staff structure and asked DB to give his alternative staff structure. The project was confirmed and THIS decided to hire two new staff and run the ISIS Family Repatriation Project. By the end of November 2006, THIS had its first visit to 19 VDCs of Humla to find the family of the kids rescued from Matatirtha and Thankot’s child trafficking during August, 2006. DB led the team and visited 19 VDCs of Humla and found all the family members except of 3 orphans. In his field report he mentioned the need of better educational facility in districts like Humla. He concluded his report with the suggestion to try to improve the educational infrastructure and develop teaching and learning environment and improved educational services, etc.

Right now, with support from Next Generation Nepal THIS is trying to work in Bal Mandir, the second largest high school in Humla’s district headquarters with 530 children and where most of the poorest children go to receive their formal education.

THIS is hoping to improve the infrastructure, the teacher's attitude towards the students and self motivation towards their job. THIS is also seeking how we can practice good discipline and respect within the teachers and the students and how we can create a child friendly teaching and learning environment in this school.

In order to create a less expensive educational institution, THIS wishes to manage a school without ties, freedom of uniform but cleanliness and tidiness is highly encouraged. This criterion is very suitable for the people of Humla who have very limited sources of income and have been pressed by poverty, disease and illiteracy. 

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THIS Organizational Profile

1. Name of the NGO  :- The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS)
2. Address  : - GPO 8975,EPC 4161, Maharajgunj,Kathmandu, Nepal.
3. Contact person :-Dhan Bahadur Lama (Director)
• Telephone No :–01-4435221          
• Email: thisngonepal@gmail.com    
4. Details of Project:-

Vision & mission

THIS envisions a society in which people are able to make informed choices for positive change based on understanding of how their social and physical environment affects their lives. To move towards this vision, THIS’ mission is to facilitate a bottom-up approach with full participation of the local people in order to bring a balanced social reform by maximum use of local human-power and resources.

Goal

In the long run, THIS is working towards the goal of a healthy, knowledgeable, and educated population, with a decent living standard in the Mid Western Region of Nepal.

Objectives

In order to reach the abovementioned goal, THIS has set itself the following objectives:

New opportunities for most disadvantaged and poor people to improve their lives & well being through:

1. Improved and expanded services in the sector of Health and Education, including the necessary awareness among target groups.
2. Improved social development including awareness on human rights and peace and support for the victims of natural disasters and other conflicts.
3. Preservation and better use of nature and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism
4. Improved income generation opportunities, including agriculture, livestock, and the possibility to undertake activities so that profit can support other development activities.
5. Run children's home, transit homes and family reunification of trafficked and displaced children
6. NGO Registration (district adm.office):- Kathmandu
• Reg. No. 459/059/060                        
• Date:- 2059/09/26 (10thJanuary 2003)
• Date of last renewal: 
• Date of last audit : - 
7. SWC Affiliation No.:- 14304 
8. Working area:-Humla and Mid western region of Humla
9. Target Beneficiaries: -Women and children of Deprived communities from remote area

December, 2003:

The inception of The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS)  started when two people from one of the remotest areas of Nepal, the district of Humla – also called the “Hidden Himalayas” decided that it was time to take on responsibility and leadership in promoting a healthy development in their home area. After working for years in an organization run by outsiders, DB Lama and Babita Lama had concluded that the lives of the people of Humla and the whole Karnali would not change sufficiently if outsiders were to keep on taking the initiatives and decisions. They took the courage, left their jobs and were determined to start THIS.

On the other hand the country was running in the middle of the Maoist insurgency. It was a tough time even for well established organizations. It was near to impossible to imagine starting a new organization which had to start from scratch. It was not only difficult to get funding but also to implement projects in the grass root level and deliver the services to the target communities. It was the time of fighting between survival and death for small organizations like THIS.

But Babita and DB accepted to bear all the challenges ahead, whatever cost they had to pay in order to become a source of hope for their people who were living in deep rooted poverty, inadequate health services and insufficient and basic educational infrastructure. They decided to move forward in order to help their people no matter how. It was definitely like jumping in the fire due to the political situation, choosing a remote area as its working area and especially for a new organization wanting to work closely with the community people but they did it.

They decided to work in Humla first as they have won the trust of the community people while working with the other organization they worked for. They decided to use their experience, potentials and possible opportunities by the help of friends that they knew so far. They did not have any contact in government and NGO world as they came from a backward community which never got opportunities in government services. It was absolutely a tough decision by Babita and DB.

They proceeded to register a new NGO………….

January, 2003:

 

The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS) is a non-governmental, non-profitable organization that does not discriminate according to caste, religion, sex, age, colour and politics.

It was established in January 2003 with the motive to help and serve the deprived communities and the people of Humla and Mid-Western Region of Nepal in the sector of Education, Health, Tourism, and Human Rights.

THIS was established with a vision to set up a society in which people are able to make informed choices for positive change based on understanding of how their social and physical environment affects their lives by two dedicated young energetic Humlis, Babita Lama and Dhan Bahadur Lama; who were among the first in their community to get quality education outside Humla.

The aim of establishment was to bring about a balanced social reform through a "bottom up" approach in Humla, with full participation of local people in making informed choices about the development of the region by maximum use of local human power and resources.

THIS is registered in the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, following Section (4) of Association Registration Act 2034 B.S., registration number 459/059/060 B.S. THIS is also affiliated with the Social Welfare Council following Section 13 of the Social Welfare Council Act 2049 B.S., affiliation number 14304 and is registered with the NGO Federation Nepal, registration number 159.

After the completion of official establishment of THIS, DB and Babita contacted their friends abroad by email and post, visited people suggested by their friends and friends of friends. After 8 months of constant effort they were fortunate to receive a grant from UNESCO Kathmandu for Community Learning Centre (CLC) Project.

PARTNESHIP WITH UNESCO KATHMANDU

August, 2003:

Community Learning Centres Project:

Community Learning Centre (CLC) Project under the financial support from UNESCO-Kathmandu under the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) was THIS's first project and also first opportunity to work with an UN body. DB and Babita decided to work in this project for half salary (Rs.9000.00 per person) one in Kathmandu and one in Humla by representing The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS). They worked very closely with the community people to establish CLCs in 4 VDCs of Humla. They provided various kinds of trainings to the CLC members and mother groups.

THIS supported community Learning Centre in 6 different areas such as:

1. Education and Communication
2. Women Empowerment and Awareness
3. Culture, Heritage and Tourism Development
4. Income Generation and Skill Development
5. Community Infrastructure Development
6. Networking, coordination and organizational Development of CLCs

 Ø  Till the end of December 2005, THIS and its staff worked with all their energy and skills and worked closely with the community people.

Ø  THIS produced a booklet, DVD and Audio cassette on Traditional Humli Dances called "Mystique Dances from the Hidden Himalaya". DB spent time writing articles by collecting information from local leaders and elderly people, capturing the dances at the time of Community Learning Centre Level Dance Competition on the occasion of International Cultural Heritage Day on 21^st May 2005.

Ø  District Education Office, Humla honored THIS with an  Appraisal lette

Ø  Cook training for the teashop owners of Simikot to enhance the skill in cooking on Continental and Indian dishes under financial support from Marjan Rens Foundation, Netherlands.

v  Amongst 3 Districts of Mid and Far western regions of Nepal (Doti Dadeldhura and Humla) of UNESCO’s CLC Project, Humla was the best district to accomplish the project activities and achieve the project goal.

October, 2003:

Scholarships and SLC Tuition Classes:

Friends of DB and Babita who had visited Nepal proposed to support THIS. Among them friend, Hugh Mckay from Scotland promised to help for Scholarships to children and Barbara Aplington from the USA promised to support for Free SLC Tuition for Humli children in Science, Mathematics and English the subjects that were considered as most difficult subject to get through in SLC Exams "The Iron Gate". These supports were very small in amount but it was the source of encouragement for DB and Babita to work hard and an example of true friendship, "A friend in need is a friend indeed".

Ø  Since then these two projects have been continuously helping girls and Dalit children to pass SLC. It is our pleasure to mention that since then the number of students passing SLC increased every year. These projects have been very famous among the school children in Humla.

Participation in international level Workshops:

After the successful implementation of CLC project in Humla, THIS had no projects for 9 months and DB used this time for production of THIS' brochure and website in order to promote THIS towards potential funding partners. During this time, DB and Babita were looking for opportunities to develop different kinds of activities. THIS was provided the opportunity to participate in the workshop on the "Democratic Essentials Summit" on July 25 – 27, 2006 at Park village Resort, Kathmandu, organized jointly by CM Partners, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, San Diego and SAP-Nepal.

Later Babita participated in a great platform for Women Leaders, “Who’s making policy? What difference does it make?” convened by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for the period of October 18-20, 2006 at the Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, San Diego, CA. .

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISIS FOUNDATION

November, 2006-2010

ISIS Family connection and Repatriation Project:

In November, 2006, another great opportunity in the history of 3 years of work in Humla was to get involved in the “Family Connection and Repatriation project” for trafficked children from Humla and 7 other districts of the Mid-western region of Nepal with support from the ISIS Foundation. THIS was engaged with this project till December, 2010. Within this period, THIS carried out the following process to reconnect the children with their family of origin:

• Homes were established for 136 children rescued from dilapidated and irresponsible orphanages.
• Interview trafficked children to identify where they have come from
• Visit Humla and other districts to trace the parents and relatives of these kids
• Sharing letters, photos and videos both with parents and children
• Interview with parents on how, why and who were involved in trafficking these children as well as assessment on economic, security, educational and health situation of the family
• Frequent visit to children's home and parents to make sure that both the child and parents are aware of recent developments and to create the bondage of love and affection
• Efforts to reunite and repatriate the kids once the parents agreed take their children back.
• By the end of July 2010, THIS successfully repatriated 1 kid with his parents and reintegrated 7 children from other districts apart from Humla near their parents with educational support.
• All the Humli children are provided educational support to go to boarding Schools in Kathmandu.
• In December 2010, Family Reconnection and Repatriation will be phased out. THIS and ISIS will have new contract for educational support project in Humla for Single mother children.

January, 2011-2013

Children at Risk Project, Humla

The ISIS Foundation and The Himalayan Innovative Society have agreed to have a partnership of equality, mutual respect, mutual learning, honesty and transparency for the year 2011-2013 to work on an Educational Support project for Single mother children (Tima):

The specific objectives for this Project are:

• To assist marginalized Humli children from single parent families to get an education in Humla;
• To link the ISIS children with their families of origin in Humla; and
• To reduce the incidence of child trafficking in Humla.

The target beneficiaries are children of Humla. In particular three groups:

• Illegitimate children in Humla without paternal identification who are not accepted by society as citizens.
• The 136 trafficked ISIS children in care in Kathmandu or repatriated back to families in Humla or Nepalgunj.
• Children at risk of being trafficked out of Humla to Kathmandu or out of the country.

Recently we have come to consensus to conduct educational support project for the single mother children in Humla from January, 2014 to 2016. It is continuation of educational support for 53 children and more.

January, 2014-2016

Children at Risk Project, Humla

Adara Development Nepal (then The ISIS Foundation) and The Himalayan Innovative Society have agreed to have a partnership of equality, mutual respect, mutual learning, honesty and transparency for the year 2014-2016 to work on an Educational Support project for Single mother children (Tima):

The specific objectives for this Project are:

• To assist marginalized Humli children from single parent families to get an education in Humla;
• To link the ISIS children with their families of origin in Humla; and
• To reduce the incidence of child trafficking in Humla through FM Radio programme
• 
  

PARTNERSHIP WITH NEXT GENERATION NEPAL

February, 2007-22^nd May, 2012

NGN Reunification and Children Home:

In 2007, THIS extended cooperation with Next Generation Nepal (NGN), USA and Karya Association, France to implement project activities for rescued children. Our objective was the welfare of children who have been displaced or trafficked, or children who are destitute and / or unprivileged.

THIS presented itself as project partner of Next Generation Nepal for organizing well managed transit home, reconnection, reunification, monitoring of reunified children and educational project to reduce child trafficking and illiteracy.

There are two transit homes under the guardianship of THIS; one at Pasikot (Kathmandu) and another in Simikot the headquarters of Humla. There are now 36 children in total under THIS' responsibility including those in Humla. THIS successfully reunited 15 kids with their family and is providing educational support.

Educational support project for Bal Mandir High School in Humla

THIS has initiated an educational project in Humla to boost up educational facilities by providing training to the teachers, improving infrastructure, providing teaching learning materials and providing reference materials such as library books and computers to the school family of Humla.

THIS chose Bal Mandir High School so that it could deliver its services to the poorest of the poor portion of the community which used to be funded by the Royal family.

But due to some major fall backs and lack of commitment from the SMC; THIS had to close this project in June 2012.

September, 2012- December, 2017

Recently, THIS and NGN has agreed to sign an agreement to strengthen and support GoN policy to deinstitutionalize Nepal’s children’s homes, so far as possible; to prevent children being displaced or trafficked from their families into institutions; and to support trafficked or displaced children to be reconnected and reunified with their families or into other forms of alternative family-based care from September 2012 to December, 2017.

NGN, THIS-KTM and THIS-Humla will be running one major service delivery activity as follows:

Objective 1 : Service Delivery Activities

      Component 1 – Reunification and Community based foster care

      Component 2 – Capacity Building of CCWB, DCWBs, Civil Society and Other Agencies

      Component 3 – Promoting Ethical Tourism

      Component 4 – Deinstitutionalization Group (DIG)

Objective 2 : Education in Humla

NGN will fund THIS-Humla to work with education stakeholders in Humla district (communities, teachers, parents, students, School Management Committees, local political representatives, VDCs etc) to consider problems children face in accessing a quality education and how these can be resolved, thus preventing children being displaced and trafficked into institutions in Kathmandu.  The stakeholders will be encouraged to consider their own solutions.  Year 1 of the project will involve intensive research and a baseline survey to better understand the complex socio-economic reasons that create a situation of children being displaced from their families for reasons associated with education, and the results of this research will inform the activities of the project.  At this stage it is too early to say exactly which activities the project will undertake, as these will be informed by the research and baseline survey, but we anticipate using a dialogue and social mobilization approaches to engage communities in identifying their problems and finding appropriate and sustainable solutions.  The project will work with communities to implement solutions, and we anticipate these solutions involving infrastructure support for schools and capacity building and training of teachers, parents and other stakeholders to improve their role in the education of children. 

Objective 3 : Empowerment of Young People

NGN will fund THIS-KTM to work specifically with Nepali young people who need scholarship educational support or vocational mentoring and training to enable them to become skilled and educated Nepali citizens who work for local communities and thus indirectly prevent trafficking.  NGN believes that, if they are fully educated and trained then they can achieve a big impact in developing their communities and thus addressing the problem of child trafficking into institutions in Kathmandu.  Criteria for assessing young people eligible for the scheme will broadly be the following: (i) those having been trafficked into children’s homes and/or reconnected or reunified through NGN projects; (ii) young people originating from Humla and who have been educated in Humla and are committed to working for the betterment of Nepali society; and (iii) young people from Humla who have been educated in Kathmandu by lack opportunities  available to them and are committed to working for the betterment of Nepali society.

Supporting Project : Capacity Building of THIS-KTM and THIS-Humla

NGN has been providing capacity building trainings to THIS staff to capacitate and level up their skills and knowledge in their working area and field. This training also include the organizational capacity building of THIS central office and district base office in Humla through providing funds to upgrade human resource as well as assets such as computers, printers and other accessories.

PARTNERSHIP WITH TERRE DES HOMMES FOUNDATION (TDH)

December 2009-July, 2013:

During the last ten years, Humla and the districts of Karnali had been in the headlines of the main newspaper for trafficked children and trafficking. Children left their area due to various reasons such as political havoc, low economic condition, in search of better opportunities for children's education and to save children from joining Maoists. Traffickers benefited from political havoc and could easily fool the parents distributing false dreams about their children's future. They even told some of the children's parents that their children would come home with Bachelor's degree from colleges in Kathmandu.

In January, 2010, THIS has drawn an agreement with Terre Des Hommes (Tdh) Foundation for the implementation of the H2P project in Humla to promote family preservation and alternative child care to parental care and improve the participation of children in their physical, mental and psychosocial development through the provision of child focused activities in a participatory approach. The main focus of the project is children under the age of 18 who are living in different forms of risks such as abuse, neglect and exploitation and are able to cope with and are able to lead a normal life. Raya, Jaira and Simikot are the project working areas.

Terre Des Hommes Foundation project on Children's homes to child protection (H2P) MALA III was awarded to THIS for 3 VDCs of Humla mainly Jaira, Raya and Simikot. The main Goal of the project was to reduce the prevailing child trafficking from Humla and encourage internal adoptions through foster families, kinship care and other possible ways instead of institutional child care such as children's homes, orphanages and boarding school care etc and international adoption.

The major objectives of the project were to:

• Reduce Child Trafficking
• Encourage foster care and kinship care
• Awareness raising on child trafficking and displacement of children from their home and family
• School kit support and Family preservation support for children and family at risk

THIS is in the final stage of successful implementation; sustainable phasing out stage of Tdh funded Mala III project on alternative care to stop child trafficking and displacement of children from Humla. It might go a maximum of 6 months.

After working 3 years in Humla and supporting the children, it is time to terminate the project so THIS plans to implement activities which will encourage and realize the beneficiaries for safe landing of the project. It does not mean that we are leaving Humla but we will work for more sustainable ways to phase out this project

August, 2013-August, 2016:

Recently, Tdh and THIS signed a 3 year (2013-2016) an Integrated Child Protection project in Humla to protect the children through 2 major areas such as Health and child protection. Mother and child health including pre-natal and post-natal care service is provided through the government health facilities with direct involvement of the mothers groups and with emergency fund to healp and support mothers and children. Child protection system is strengthened through mobilizing child clubs, schools and community people and DCWB.

PARTNERSHIP WITH Australian Association for Forget Me Not Children's Home (AAFMNCH)

November, 2012-December, 2017:

November, 2012 THIS signed a 5 year (August 2012-July 2017) project with SWC and Autralian Association for Forget Me Not Children's Home for the reunification of 20 girls, Empowerment and their futures. AAFMNCH began operating a children’s home in Kathmandu where children are provided with food, clothing and a quality education as per the Government of Nepal’s minimum standards. AAFMNCH believes that while basic needs must be fulfilled, there are additional needs for every child that are not material.  In order to address the deeper emotional needs of children as well to recognize aspects of cultural and personal identity, we would like to begin a program of reintegration to reconnect children with their families and communities wherever possible. 

AAFMNCH aims to:

1. Operate a Home, "Forget Me Not Children's Home," abiding by the national minimum standards of GoN by providing food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care, psychosocial support and child sponsorships. Forget Me Not Children's Home will serve as a transit home for children who are able to be reintegrated and will also provide long-term care for children for whom reintegration is not an option.
2. Initiate reintegration programs to reunite displaced children with their families and communities wherever possible.
3. Provide scholarships for higher study. Scholarship opportunities will be available for children who have been reintegrated as well as those who remain in the Forget Me Not Children's Home.

Up to the end of October, 2013, we have reconnected majority of the children with their families and ready for the reintegration. We stuck in the middle of the reintegration process due to upheaval of children's Psychosocial condition. We had to wait for the reintegration up to the level of their capacity to take the decision. We took this decision very carefully and sensibly so that the children and family will be happy to accept the decision.

We decided to reunite most of the children by the beginning of the new academic session 2014 back to their families and community. We have decided to support for their education, food, school dress and some income generation training for the family members to increase their economic condition so that they could create a better environment for the children to live in. The support plan and child care plan has been discussed with the children and their family. Support plan basically depend on the team decision based on the recommendation and family assessment report from the reintegration officer and Programme Manager. We have also decided to monitor, mentor and provide psychosocial counselling for these children every fortnight basis for the nearby children and their family and monthly basis for the children and families who are far away from Kathmandu. Apart from the educational support other support will only provided after completion of the 3 months stay at their home with safe and secure settlement in the respective families. Educational support will be continued up to 10+2. Till then THIS' monitoring and supervision will continue.

PARTNERSHIP WITH Go Campaign USA

January 2015-December, 2015

THIS Applied for an organizational capacity building project from Go Campaign, USA for the year 2015. Go Campaign generously offered this one year (January 2015 to December, 2015) project to THIS for the year 2015. The main objective of the project is to capacitate THIS and to help destitute children of Nepal. By the end of 2015 THIS will carry out some activities which will directly help build THIS' capacity in different ways. THIS' key  staffs will have an exposure visit to Bachapan Bachao Andolan, in New Delhi; an organization led and established by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi in 1980 and which runs transit homes and long term care homes for the children working in the mica industries is India. BBA is working vigorously in India against child labour and campaigns against it. Within this project some children will be directly benefit and help them understanding on child rights and right to education.  

Last Updated : 29-March-2015

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