Urban Prevention Program (UPP)

Underprivileged, backward, lower classes, vulnerable, and marginalized children are a common problem that has been occurring for a long time in Nepal. In the context of Nepal, the problem of underprivileged, backward, poverty, and vulnerable children has emerged as a major social problem. The change in the political system also did not bring much difference in terms of addressing this serious problem, as it was expected. The Labor Act 1992 of Nepal defines children under the age of 16. But the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989
defines every human below the age of 18 are child. The number of those children has grown in recent decades because of widespread recession, political turmoil, civil unrest, increasing family disintegration, natural disaster, and growing urbanization. Many visible and invisible factors are associated with the homelessness of children. Some of the main factors are: family breakdown, poverty, natural and manmade disasters, physical and sexual abuse, exploitation by adults, urbanization and overcrowding, which force them to spend their life on to streets. In other words, an individual does not become a marginalized and vulnerable child on their own, but social factors such as family background, economic factors, and political factors play a significant role in becoming a marginalized and vulnerable child (Swart, 1990). In Nepal, due to a high poverty level chances of being a marginalized and vulnerable child are high. In many cases, parental support to their children is not enough to fulfill their demands, and thus it drives them to live independently. Due to a lack of good governance and a political system, responsible government authorities have not paid much attention to addressing this issue. Many children come from structurally
disadvantaged homes where poor living conditions result in many difficulties. Parents’ loss through death or abandonment and/or family conflict or shortage of housing may force children onto the streets. Children are an integral part of the society and they deserve the childhood, as it is there in born human right. The UN (United Nations) convention on the rights of the child has ensured that every child in the world has right to survival, development, protection and participation. However, an overwhelming majority of children in the world are deprived and denied of their fundamental rights. Nepal is one of the examples of nation plagued by the problems of those children. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, having more than two million populations according to data released by Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on 27th January, 2022 but however the data is not true. The assumed population in Kathmandu valley exceeds more than 6 million. The three districts of valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur) is one of the major hubs of migration for people in Nepal. With growing rapid urbanization, Kathmandu is also the place of employment but due to high competition in the valley, people remain unemployed. Therefore, children’s families who migrate Kathmandu without qualification, knowledge and skill in hand will have to face a harsh life due to competitive labor market. Thus, children’s families have to do any work in valley to sustain their life. Kathmandu has become a major hub to enjoy their life. The valley life has attracted people from all 77 districts becoming a pull factor to leave their native place. With this, Basantapur, a major touristic hub has become one of the major migration destinations for people. People step into Basantapur as soon as they migrate in Kathmandu thinking that they will earn handsome money for their livelihood but the reality seems to be more far than that in real. Likewise, Prevention Program is one of the most effective programs in Kathmandu to mitigate the children’s problems. Through prevention program, many NGOs in Kathmandu and Nepal in big cities have played a crucial role to prevent children coming onto streets. 6 NGOs who are running prevention program has been able to stop children forcing them to become marginalized and vulnerable children. Many NGOs in Kathmandu has started to operate urban prevention program providing schooling and hosteling support for children. With this, family income spent on children educational support will save making it easier to run their households. The program will ease burden to their children for educational support. Despite being so many communities and governments schools in Kathmandu, it is still difficult for parents to pay children’s school fees as the education in Kathmandu valley is too expensive. The urban prevention program is one of the most effective programs to solve those problems. With this, CWN will also play a vital role to mitigate such problems of parents. CWN aims to support under privileged, backward, vulnerable, marginalized and lower caste community children to uplift their life. In addition, CWN aims to deliver quality education under urban prevention program for children for their betterment of life. Today, the mission of the “Child Welfare Nepal’’ is to continue to help the vulnerable children and give them a better future. For this, CWN relies on local actors and the funding donor agency. CWN constantly adapts to the situations and contexts of the country to keep effectiveness in its actions. CWN mainly finances to support prevention programs through the schooling of children in urban areas of (KTM) of the Bagmati region (region where more than 80% of marginalized and vulnerable children come to KTM and the enrollment rate of girls schooling is very low).