Protection and Social Support  

What CWS does

In 2004 we launched a new project for the growing number of destitute street children in Nepal and boys and girls engaged in dangerous forms of child labour, following research funded by UNESCO.  This project has grown and developed at a phenomenal pace, and four local partner organisations have now formed The Consortium for Working Children.  They work together to provide a range of services for street and working children in the Kaski district of Nepal.  These provide a route for a young person from destitution on the street to education, training, and ultimately employment and a home and place in society.  This collaborative way of working is rare in international development, and probably unique in Nepal!  It also enables the partners to work together on advocacy and networking programmes.

The range of services offered by the consortium is incredible:

• Five centres for working children and a day centre for street children

• Non-formal education and education support

• Basic healthcare

• Family and child counselling

• Sports and recreation

• Family reintegration and support

• Vocational and On-the-job training

• Business training and support

• Referrals to other services

• A night shelter for street children

• Legal support

• A children's development bank

• A children's newspaper ‘Bol Srijana'

• A community kitchen

• Child clubs

• An emergency shelter for girls

As well as co-ordinating this network of organisations, CWS also conducts research into street children's needs and issues, training courses, and training for trainers.  CWS is a member of the Consortium for Street Children, a network of organisations dedicated to the welfare and rights of street living and working children and children at risk of taking to street life.  Please see their website for further details about the consortium's work, and information and reports about street children.