10 February 2009

Kathmandu, Nepal: The input of UNV volunteers helping Prayas in their own time has been key. Since UNV volunteers in Kathmandu became voluntarily involved with Prayas, they have been promoting the NGO and its work via UN days and events, and inviting other UN agencies, NGOs and locals to participate and witness Prayas in action.

"The current reality in Kathmandu is that there are hardly any girls who take up glue sniffing or live in the streets," explains Prayas manager Suren Lama. "All the children that Prayas harbour are boys." Solvent-abusing boys then tend to get involved in petty crime and worse.

"They start taking hard drugs, using needles, which make them vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS and other infections," continues Mr. Suren. "In the streets, they operate in gangs: each group has a leader and their own territory to beg from foreigners. If a member from the other group trespasses into their territory then they get into confrontations…

"They grow up with the mentality that being tough and being able to fight makes them stronger and able to survive better in the streets. This mentality dies hard as they grow up and eventually contributes to the street crimes in Nepal," he adds. Steering the street boys away from this life is thus good for everyone in Kathmandu.

As well as providing food and lodging to boys who commit to making a fresh start, Prayas offers individual counselling. "Listening to them, giving them the opportunity to sing or perform on stage for the public… overall giving them responsibilities makes them feel wanted. It tend to boost their motivation to further carry on with their schooling and staying off the streets and glue sniffing," says Mr. Suren.

Suren Lama says that this has led to some additional street children to join Prayas and local volunteers coming to help Prayas with administrative work, teaching the children, spending time with them, and even getting involved with nursing and counselling.

"It is really the hard work and determination of the Prayas' staff members and volunteers that means we can a send a few of the children to school. The ones who are now going to school are the ones who were sniffing glue and sleeping in the streets," he concludes.

Click here to read more about UNV's involvement with Prayas and a photo of Ramesh Thapa before he met them.