1. INTRODUCTION:

In every society, Childhood is regarded as the best period of human life. Children are the source of hope, joy and inspiration. They are our tomorrow. Unfortunately, a large majority of the child population in Nepal is being deprive of fundamental rights of education and forced to live in difficult circumstance. In Nepali, we call Children "Keta Keti", "Balbalika", "Balak". According to the children's Act 1992, every one below 16 years of age is regarded as a child. Although, the UN convention on the rights of child has limited the age of children as below 18 years, every state party is given the right to fix their own age limit so as to define children in own context.

2. CHILDREN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE IN NEPAL.

The following groups of children can be taken as the children in difficult circumstance:

a. Exploited child workers:

Children are forced to work in a discriminative labour system. Carpet and garment industries, hotel & restaurants, building & road constructions, stone quarries are employing children as they are a cheap source of labour, uncomplaining and meek. Similarly, many of the children are employed in confectionery, domestic and agriculture working force. Street children (rag pickers, beggars, street venders & porters) are increasing every passing day.

b. Trafficked, Sold & Abused Childern

It is estimated that 4-5 thousand Nepali children, mostly girls are trafficked to India and sold for prostitution & bonded labour every year. Inter-country trafficking is also forcing children to work in bondage condition & prostitution in and around the highway & in cities like Kathmandu, Narayanghat, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Dharan & Nepalgunj. Similarly, more and more cases of child sexual abuse is been reported. Western Nepal still practices the custom of "Deuki" & "Badi" a custom where young girls are forced into prostitution. Physical, emotional & psychological abuse cases of children by parents, paedophiles, teachers & police are recorded.

c. Disabled Children

One of the most vulnerable and neglected children groups in Nepalese society are the disabled, abandoned and orphan children. Attitude of feeling burden and non acceptance in most common in this regard. In view of the prevalence of various crippling diseases, due to lack of adequate health care, malnutrition, endemic micro-nutrient deficiencies, environment problems etc. the magnitude of disability in Nepal is increasing.

d. Victim of Domestic Violence & Ignorant Child Rearing.

The main cause behind many social problem of children is violence.. Most of our families are working hard day & night for bare survival, not been able to spare time & care for their children, the children lack good role models. Often because of stress in the family violent between family members is common, the result been that children are themselves often delinquent in many area. These families who live under extreme stress are found living in rural families, slums and urban areas.

3. CAUSES LEADING CHILDREN TO LIVE IN DIFFICULT

CIRCUMSTANCES

a. Exploitative Socio-economic condition

- Discrimination-sex, race, area & accessibility

- Cultural disguise- untouchable, Badi, Deuki, Jari, Jhuma, Child marriage

- Unfair distribution of economy.

- Cheap source of labour supply & adult unemployment.

b. Lack of Political Commitment

- Lack of Compulsory education systems

- Lack of enough laws and ineffective implementation of laws

- Attitude towards the social development is not quite positive.

c. Ignorance & helpless feeling toward life among the people

- Negative role modelling

- Lack of self disempowerment

- Family break-ups & social disintegration

4. GENERAL PROBLEMS FACED BY ALL FOUR GROUPS

CHILDREN

a. Lack of health care, health hazardous working condition, no wages or

low wages, night work & long working hours.

b. Their survival condition is one of trying to fulfil of basic life needs each day.

c. They are exposed to physical, mental, emotional & sexual abuse.

5. SIGNS WE CAN SEE CHILDREN HAVE WHO LIVE IN DIFFICULT

CIRCUMSTANCES:

a. Depression- Pressure, fear, humiliation & anger

b. Rest lessness - Conflict with role models- problems of trust

c. Deliqency - Negative and violate feelings and action.

d. Ignorance and self hate.

5. CHALLENGES WHEN WORKING IN LITERACY

PROGRAMMES WITH THESE TYPES OF CHILDREN.

a. Pressure of Surrounding Conditions.

b. Materials are not relevant to these children everyday life.

c. Problem of acceptance, patience & compassion.

d. Lack of emotional support between child to child and teacher.

e. Daily attendance & commitment to structural timetable is undesirable by the children.

7. CONSTRAINS EFFECTING LITERACY PROGRAMMES FOR

CHILDREN IN NEPAL.

a. Lack of inclusive approaches.

b. Working as a formula (nationwide, single package, structural approach).

c. Influence of traditional formal education system.

d. Lack of innovative & experience oriented approaches.

e. Dominance of table/ paper work rather than field work.

f. Lack of coordination, collaboration among concern agencies.

g. Competition & dependency of development agencies.

h. Lack of local, parental & community initiatives.

i. Charity oriented instead of rights approaches.

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

a. What is literacy ? -

two way event.

is not a privilege but a right.

as compulsory for all.

is responsibility of parents, families & communities.

as Dharma (cycle of birth, live & death)

as counselling of children, their families and role models.

b. Why literacy ?

Literacy can help to promote the following;

Happiness, independency, interdependency & peace.

Simplicity, patients & compassion.

Aware of the events, feelings & behaviour.

Respect and understanding of other ways of life.

9. CONCLUDING REMARKS

The painful situation of our children is a reflection of our irresponsibility in society. At each moment, we are offered colourful dreams, ambitious development plan, inspiring speeches; the children living in difficult circumstances. But the number of children in difficult circumstances are growing more & more every where. Unfortunately, this is a bitter reality in my society.

The teaching methods in Nepal are based on rote learning from set text books with the aim of being able to repeat the material in an examination situation. This education system effects the whole society. For example when you as a child has learned in this way it effects the way you think and see the world. I believe that for example when you are brought up with this method it is as an adult difficult to develop skills of reflection which is so much needed in order to solve ones own personal problems but also societies problems at large. So literacy is many things, it is also the method. Using the "right" method we cannot just give our children the tools to read and write but also the tools to "look at their lives" and hopefully give them the tools to solve some of their problems.

To change this situation we should all work hard and invest our time, capacities and resources to improve life for these children. So literacy can be defined rights of children and it can be an agent of social integration that can promote happiness, independency, interdependency & peace for our children. We have to occupy ourselves to really "feel" the issue of our children in our own lives, then there is a hope that we can overcome these very difficult circumstance.

The children are our future hope. Let us all work to mobilise ourselves for the happiness and peace of children and thereby our society, ourselves. Let us start right now by sharing our experiences

Contact Info:

PAUDEL Ram Chandra
Executive Facilitator
CHILDREN-Nepal, Malepatan, Pokhara
P.O.Box: 357, Ph: 00977-61-26081