Hope and Opportunity for Rag-picking Children

This project uses interpersonal communication interventions to improve the lives and protect the rights of child labourers. Diyalo Pariwar carries out this work through a Resource Centre that it has created as a base for street children's personal development. The Centre provides basic services such as snacks, showering facilities, lockers, as well as medical and legal care, education, and recreational opportunities.

In developing this place of support, collaboration and participation were key themes. Conscious of the need to select a location that did not upset local residents, and after consultation with municipal authorities and members of the District Child Labor Coordination Committee, Diyalo Pariwar rented a building to serve as a Resource Centre close to the city centre. This Centre is the outcome of continuous consultation with rag-picking children with whom Diyalo Pariwar works: These children expressed the desire for a place of their own, and the need for access to basic education. (Participation of the children is maintained through regular weekly meetings, providing a forum for sharing between children and staff on any issues.) Further, colleagues from Sath Sath in Kathmandu were consulted; they visited Bharatpur Municipality to provide their advice on such matters as how to ensure that programming is suitable for girls who are rag-picking, not just boys.

Diyalo Pariwar's team worked to create a diverse programme that includes non-formal education, alternative education (psychosocial development), drama, sports, games, and cultural activities. Specifically:

• Recreational / Physical Activities - promote the concept of a child's right to play, and the notion of of "leadership through sport". Activities include football, volleyball, chess, mediation, and gymnastics. One strategy here involves integrating physical activity into psychosocial development efforts; since June 12 (World Day Against Child Labour), morale classes have been held on a monthly basis that include a yoga component and breakfast.
• Educational Classes - with the support of Youth Club Narayangarh under a World Education grant and materials support, the team started a non-formal class called "Ujjwal Bhabisya" in July 2004. A teacher participated in an 11-day training session at the Youth Club Narayangarh; she then facilitated the 9-month programme for 28 children (6 girls and 22 boys). Based on discussions with World Education, basic numeric and literacy were emphasised in the flexible curriculum. Health promotion was also a feature; information about HIV/AIDS and other issues was provided, using Street Kids International animated films on HIV/AIDS and drug use. Children were taught basic rights, as well as communication and social skills. Diyalo Pariwar planned to work with ILO/IPEC on the concept of apprenticeship for rag-picking youth over 14 years of age.
• Health Care - Diyalo Pariwar staff worked with local health care providers to ensure that all rag-picking children who visit the Resource Centre have access to basic health care. Child health check-ups are held monthly. These sessions are made possible through networking with the District Public Health Office, District Hospital, Balkumari College, Ward Offices of the municipality, and Time Pharmaceuticals. Staff members refer cases of child abuse and negligence to the Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre in Kathamandu.
• Social and Legal Protection - the staff began by registering all children who visit the Centre, working with ILO/IPEC and the municipality to provide identity cards for all of them. The cards are part of an effort to improve community members' attitudes toward these children: "By the provision of ID card, nobody should ignore the children by their social status...as they are protected and strengthening by the local NGO".

Activism and advocacy are additional programme components. Diyalo Pariwar conducts various individual and group discussions to explore and record why and how the children became rag-pickers or why they left their home and parents; the goal is to encourage and enable children to reunite with their parents (to date, 6 have been reunited). In addition, using a multi-sector approach, the organisation has carried out networking efforts in an attempt to liaise and coordinate with district-level government bodies and the private sector. The organisation cites one output: an official from the District Police Office visited the Centre and "expanded his support for the better implementation to eliminate the worst forms of Child Labors."

Diyalo Pariwar also urges sharpened focus on human rights issues as they impact children, both intra- and inter-organisationally. The NGO has erected various child-rights-promoting posters and desktop materials throughout its own offices; the aim is to diffuse the issue of child rights throughout its other projects. Further, the organisation provides information, education and communication (IEC) materials to other NGOs and community-based organisations (CBOs) who visit the offices or the Centre.

Children, Youth, Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Rights.

A Rapid Assessment by ILO/IPEC carried out in 2002 estimated that there are 4000 or so child rag pickers in Nepal, most living in urban areas. The common Nepalese term used for the children is "Khate" (a derogatory term), as they collect rags, plastic, metal, paper, glass bottles, and other items out of garbage dumps, from under bridges, and alongside roads. They work closely with junkyard owners, who, according to Diyalo Pariwar, often take advantage of them. Organisers report that "Rag-picking children are tenacious and resourceful, and will do almost anything to get by including engaging in criminal activities. Such children are also vulnerable to drug addiction, and to infection by HIV/AIDS." Further, few have access to even the most basic services, including education and health care ("They are routinely denied access to hospitals").

Diyalo Pariwar emphasised establishing a strong resource base to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Resource Centre. As part of that process, a monitoring system was developed to assess the programme's effectiveness, focusing on qualitative aspects concerning the personal development of participating children. Among the positive impacts of the programme, organisers report that children from the Centre have been actively participating in new ways in various district-level competitive events, with success: the children earned first place in Synergy FM's Child-Voice programme, and one child (Usman Thapa) has won first prize in several art competitions organised by Youth Club, Ratnanagr Program. However, there are challenges, as well. Some of the children are reportedly still taking drugs, speaking slang languages, behaving aggressively, and stealing programme materials.