01 Jan, 2025

BISWAS Nepal, in partnership with the Terre des Hommes (Tdh) Foundation and in collaboration with Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is proud to implement the Prayatna Project. This transformative initiative is designed to address the pressing challenges of child exploitation, gender inequality, and labor rights violations in Kathmandu’s entertainment and hospitality sectors, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the LGBTQIA+ (Queer) community.

Context
Increased climate change-related disasters, global civil unrest, and economic instability have placed immense strain on poor households in Nepal. These challenges have led to loss of livelihoods, forced migration, and limited resources, pushing families beyond their capacity to cope. As a result, risks of violence against children, child labor, trafficking, and exploitation have surged. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has reported a significant rise in human trafficking and exploitation, particularly among women and children from rural areas and marginalized communities.

Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals from marginalized backgrounds face heightened vulnerabilities in the informal and often unregulated entertainment and hospitality sectors. These workers are frequently subjected to exploitation, harassment, and unsafe working conditions. Additionally, recruitment agents often lure women and girls into unsafe migration with false promises of better opportunities abroad, further exacerbating their risks.

Our Mission
The Prayatna Project aims to create a safer, fairer, and more inclusive working environment in Kathmandu by addressing these systemic issues. The project focuses on three core pillars:

1. Child and Youth-Led Initiatives: Empowering children and youth to advocate for their rights and lead community-driven change.
2. Integrated Support Services: Providing comprehensive support, including psychosocial counseling, legal aid, access to education, and healthcare services.
3. Advocacy and Policy Reform: Strengthening labor rights and policies through collaboration with local governments, stakeholders, and communities.

Key Objectives
– Enhance Safety and Well-being: Ensure the prevention of exploitation and provide access to protective services and information for vulnerable groups.
– Promote Gender Justice: Advocate for the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, ensuring their inclusion and protection in all sectors.
– Strengthen Local Governance: Improve data management systems and local governance structures to better address the needs of vulnerable communities.

Our Approach
The Prayatna Project adopts a holistic approach to tackle the root causes of exploitation and inequality. By strengthening local governance and data management systems, the project aims to create sustainable solutions that protect vulnerable groups and promote their rights. Key activities include:
– Conducting awareness campaigns to educate communities about the risks of trafficking and exploitation.
– Providing vocational training and skill development programs to enhance economic opportunities.
– Establishing safe spaces and drop-in centers for immediate support and resources.
– Collaborating with stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and community leaders, to advocate for systemic reforms.

Mitigating Risks
The project acknowledges potential challenges, such as government approval delays, low stakeholder acceptance, and safety concerns for staff and beneficiaries. To address these, robust mitigation strategies are in place, including:
– Trauma-informed data collection methods to ensure ethical and safe practices.
– Regular security assessments to safeguard staff and beneficiaries.
– Strategic advocacy plans to build stakeholder support and drive policy changes.

Our Goal
The ultimate goal of the Prayatna Project is to combat child exploitation and promote gender justice in Nepal. By empowering children, youth, and marginalized communities, we aim to create a society where every individual can live and work with dignity, free from exploitation and discrimination.

The Prayatna Project seeks to build a society where every individual can work with dignity, free from exploitation and discrimination. Join us in our mission to create lasting change and a brighter future for vulnerable communities in Kathmandu.

“Together, we can make a difference”