FNC Nepal

BACK TO IDP HOMEPAGE…………………… HOW IDP SAVES OUR DAUGHTERS …………………. RAISING AWARENESS FOR KAMLARIS …..

Education: FNC recognizes that it is not sufficient to simply remove a Kamlari from her employer and return her home. To be truly “saved,” rescued Kamlaris must receive an education and/or training that will provide her and her family with alternative ways to earn a living. Therefore, FNC (in collaboration with NYOF) pays the educational costs for each rescued Kamlari both for regular schooling and, if necessary, for a “bridging” course.

Vocational Training: Alternatively, FNC’s field workers help families of rescued Kamlaris to connect with existing cooperatives and micro-credit giving facilities and also provide a variety of vocational training opportunities to the rescued girls. One part of the vocational training program is funded by the Western Union Foundation (WUF). Through the WUF program, girls are offered in six-month training courses in skills including an advanced beautician’s course, driving, mobile phone repair, bamboo handicrafts, etc. In addition to these skills, with funding from the Singapore-based NGO Art Venture, FNC offered training during 2007-2008 on the cultivation, processing and marketing of henna. Henna-based art and cosmetics offers the former Kamlaris a wide scope of income-generating opportunities.

Prevention: To spread the word about the need to abolish the Kamlari system, FNC and IDP work not only with at-risk Tharu girls and their families, but with the larger, non-Tharu public as well. Such efforts include working with local youth groups to educate and mobilize them against the system, and the formation of Kamlari Abolition Committees (KAC) to facilitate and enhance participation in the program. KACs are made up of local leaders, intellectuals and parents of Kamlaris, and they are responsible for organizing meetings to educate locals about the abusive system and assist in the distribution and monitoring of scholarships and income- generating activities. Ideally, KAC members meet monthly and give suggestions and feedback to improve the program. IDP Bardiya also has regular meetings with other concerned local groups, e.g. BASE, Room to Read, the Bardiya District Child Committee and Education Office.