A fund to rescue children from slavery in Nepal

OUR LARGEST RESCUE IN YEARS BRINGS FRESH HOPE  

A few weeks ago, on 12th November, we conducted our most significant rescue operation in recent years, working alongside the Women and Child Department of Godawari Municipality, Nepal Police and local authorities.

Seventeen children – 14 boys and three girls aged between ten and 17 – were found working in dangerous conditions across multiple locations.


Motorbike and motor workshops (six children)

In four separate workshops, we found five children, the youngest just ten years old. They were covered in black engine oil, working with hazardous tools to repair bikes, cars and trucks. Their living conditions were equally grim – sharing cramped corrugated rooms with adult workers, with no space for personal belongings. The children appeared dirty and wore inadequate clothing.

Roadside restaurants (three girls)

Three minor girls, aged between 14 and 17, were working in small restaurants near the local bus park. Two had travelled all the way from far west Nepal, while one came from Makwanpur. They had come to Kathmandu seeking work, initially as dishwashers but now working in the kitchens. These vulnerable young women were working in an unsafe area, close to motor workshops and busy transport hubs.

Water bottling factory (three children)

Three Indian boys – one aged 12 and two aged 17 – had been brought to Nepal for three years of bonded labour to dig underground and work for a water extraction company. Having arrived only weeks earlier, they had been forced to build their own bamboo shelter before beginning work. Their hands were visibly dry, cut and bruised from the harsh manual labour.

Metal statue factories (three children)

In the statue-making area of Thecho, we rescued three boys aged 16 and 17 working in extremely hazardous conditions. They worked in the same position for hours in overcrowded rooms with more than ten workers. The heavy metal statues they were required to lift and handle, combined with their exposure to toxic chemicals used for polishing, posed serious risks to their safety and health.

Additional rescues

A 12-year-old boy was found working as a helper on a local microbus. He had left his Grade 5 classes after difficulties at home and school, but he has already revealed himself to be a bright child who dreams of becoming a pilot.

A 15-year-old was discovered in a furniture shop, his hands stained with glue and showing clear signs of hard labour, despite claims from his employer that he was merely visiting.

Where they are now

All rescued children are at our safe house, where they are receiving medical care, counselling, clean clothes, hygiene supplies and proper meals. A tutor is keeping them engaged throughout the day, while our staff provide care, emotional support and monitoring to ensure all children feel safe and comfortable. The children are slowly beginning to trust our team – playing games together, making friends and starting to share their stories.

For those whose families can provide a safe environment, reunification plans are being developed. The three Indian children's details are being shared with State Child Welfare Committees in India to help locate their families. We will offer longer term care for children who cannot go home safely. 

Your impact

This rescue operation – the largest we've conducted in years – was only possible because of your generous support. The work is dangerous and complex, requiring coordination with multiple agencies and immediate resources to provide emergency care. But it is also profoundly life-changing.

These seventeen children now have a chance at childhood, at education, at futures free from exploitation. Thank you for making this possible. Your support doesn't just fund rescues – it saves and transforms lives.

Thank you for making rescues like this possible.

With gratitude

 

I wanted to share some powerful news with you.  In a coordinated effort involving local government, police and child protection organisations, we recently rescued five boys aged 12-16 from hazardous child labour situations. They are now receiving the care and support they desperately needed.

The reality of their working lives

The children were found in dangerous conditions that no child should endure:

• Two were bike workshop workers exposed to sharp tools and toxic chemicals with no safety protection
• One was a restaurant worker operating in extremely poor hygiene conditions
• Two were bus helpers carrying heavy loads and working in chaotic traffic for up to 17 hours daily

One rescued boy described his gruelling schedule: "While working, I had to wake up at 4.30am, reach the destination by 5.30 and work until 10pm."

The bus helpers worked these marathon shifts for basic meals and just £2 on good days.

First night of freedom

The contrast couldn't be greater. After arriving at the transit home, the children were given clean clothes, warm showers and a proper dinner.

The next morning brought a moment that captures everything: "Today I slept till nine in the morning...I did not have to worry about the work," shared one boy, experiencing what childhood sleep should feel like.

Dreams interrupted, now restored

These weren't children who had given up on education. One boy said: "I study in Grade 10 and have just finished my final exams. It's been about a month since I started working in a motorbike garage. Now, I want to go back and complete my Class 10."

All five came from economically disadvantaged families, working to help support their households – a burden no child should carry alone.

The road ahead

The children are now receiving:

• Individual counselling and psychological support
• Medical examinations and treatment
• Family reunification efforts
• Educational reintegration planning
• Recreational activities including sports, arts and crafts and group activities

One child has already been safely reunited with family members who provided proper documentation for his return. We will continue to monitor them. 

Why this matters

This rescue highlights both the harsh reality of child labour and the power of coordinated action. When communities, government and organisations work together, children get their childhoods back.

These five boys now have the chance to sleep properly, complete their education and simply be children again.

This operation was part of our ongoing efforts to establish 'child friendly local governments', ensuring children's rights, safety and well-being are prioritised in local policies and services.

None of this vital work would be possible without the generous support of donors like you. Your contributions directly enable us to provide safe shelter, counselling, medical care and educational support to vulnerable children. When you give, you're not just making a donation – you're giving a child back their childhood and their future.

Thank you for making rescues like this possible.

With gratitude