PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Many street children are regularly seen in and around Thamel on the streets. Since, Thamel is a touristic and commercial area, there are many street children staying on the street begging, sniffing glue, playing with each other and sleeping on the street.

Given that, there is an intervention needed for the street children. In 2011 Child Street to School Nepal established a drop – in center and a night shelter Kopila Ghar for the street children nearby Thamel.

A drop – in center is a threshold point which allows the street children to come in for different purposes. Various kinds of support such as medical, psychological, NFE classes, basic health care and food are provided to the street children. An establishment of the drop – in center is crucial as it creates a bridge between the organization and the children to come across each other. The initial contact with the street children is done either directly from the street or from the drop – in center. The drop – in center plays a crucial role in the lives of the street children by taking them to the right direction of their lives and by helping them to undergo through the rehabilitation re – socialization process.

A night shelter for the street children is essentially important as it is extremely hazardous and insecure for the children to sleep on the streets which can jeopardize them from different forms of abuses such as sexual, psychological and physical . It encourages the street children to sleep in the night shelter rather than sleeping on the streets to make them feel comfortable and secure.

MAIN OBJECTIVE:

Protect the street children from various sorts of abuses and exploitations, encourage and motivate them to abandon street life and empower them gradually to live in the transit home for their social development.

SERVICES OF KOPILA GHAR:

• Entrance point for the street children by welcoming the street children for 24 hours.
• Basic medical care and support to the children whenever needed.
• Accommodation to the street children in the night shelter.
• Nutrition for all children coming to Drop –In Center.
• NFE classes on a day to day basis twice a day for the street children.
• Motivational and recreational activities daily for the street children.
• Take the children out from the drop – in center at regular intervals for an exposure visits.
• Individual and group counseling to the street children and conduct different kinds of contemporary and innovative therapies such as Play Therapy, Art Therapy and Music Therapy.
• Awareness sessions on various child related issues such as Child Rights, Child Sexual Abuse, Corporal Punishment and HIV & AIDS.
• Accommodation to the street children in the night shelter.
• Refer the street children to the Transit Home of the Child Street to School for the longer – term placement and solution.
• Reintegrate children back to their families.

Kopila Ghar can facilitate up to 60 children at the night shelter.