A fund to rescue children from slavery in Nepal

Home was a frightening place for 11-year-old Sushil. When his father drank excessively, he became violent. Sushil and his siblings used to run away when he came home to avoid being beaten. Often the children slept in the jungle to escape the violence.

His mother eventually escaped for her own safety and, before long, Sushil was trafficked by a relative with the promise of well-paid work at a metalwork factory in Kathmandu.

He worked 12-hour-days, polishing statues with chemicals that burnt his hands and feet. His wounds weren’t treated which left him in a lot of pain. When he realised he was never going to be paid, Sushil ran away.

Sushil started washing dishes at a hotel. Again his pay was withheld, so he moved on. Sushil had two more jobs before ending up in the hotel kitchen where we found him earlier this year. When our rescue team entered the hotel, Sushil saw the police and panicked. He thought he was in trouble and tried to run away. It was a hard job for our staff to gain his trust. 

Sushil spent a few months recovering in our safe house. He slept peacefully at night and spent his days catching up on his education or playing games with the other boys. He started to dream that one day he might go back to school.

If we hadn’t rescued Sushil from that kitchen, he would still be working in a Kathmandu, exploited every day and not knowing that his life could be any different.   

The latest news on Sushil is that he has been in contact with his mother by telephone and moved into one of our family-style care homes. Last month he was delighted to enrol in a local school.

We thank you so very much for your continued support of our projects that allow us to rescue and change the lives of children like Sushil. You are one in a million.

We are delighted to share the news that on the 9th of August, we rescued TWO boys from a restaurant in Kathmandu. Both boys were very young – aged just 12. If you know any 12-year-olds, you will know what an incredibly vulnerable age this can be. 

The rescue mission was undertaken by our staff team, with back up from local police and representatives from the Department of Labour. As both boys were so young, they were initially tearful and scared about what was happening. However Dilu, our experienced Rescue Co-ordinator, was able to reassure them that they were safe and hadn't done anything wrong. 

One of the boys was brought up without a mother, and his father used to take him to work with him at a brick kiln. The boy hasn't been to school for many years. Both boys tell us they were regularly beaten and have shown us their injuries. 

On the 15th of August, we rescued three boys from a metal factory in Kathmandu. They were just 11-years-old but we believe they had been working for up to two years. 

They were forced to use harsh chemicals to polish statues, leaving them with untreated acid burns. They worked extremely long hours without proper food. All three of the boys have scars and wounds from their labours. 

Currently, we know little of their stories. They were initially very upset, but are beginning to trust us and adjust to their new surroundings. The care staff in the Transit Home are doing everything they can to support them. 

Thank you to all those who continue to donate in response to these rescues. We are so thankful to those who have helped us to give these extremely vulnerable boys a second chance in life.