This section needs much revision and updated information. This doesn't do justice to the issue of children living on the streets. I will be working to turn this piece into an informative, quality portal of compassionate information. Please accept my apologies while this site is under construction...
Nepali children living on the streets trying to survive sometimes sell "art" to westerners.... I was one of the buyers..
One of the homeless boys I met on the street sold me this drawing.
I supplied paper, crayons and pencils one time and looked into trying to get art classes started for them.
My buddy Utham
Utham was a special kid. He wasn't into drugs and was as charming as he was industrious. Given the proper chance, this kid could go far. I'd sometimes arrange to meet him in Thamel and take him for a sandwich. He could speak a little English. Others around me would help interpret sometimes. His mother was unable to support him much less pay for his schooling. I met with her one time and she encouraged his life on the street because she had no job and no money. I took him to meet with the director at the local school but sessions weren't starting before I had to leave Nepal. I know I broke his heart when I left. He emailed several times always needing money. I really enjoyed this boy, but I was ignorant about how to really help him. It goes without saying, that I want the best for him, but his options appeared as limited as my knowledge was of how to help him. At Christmas time, I took Utham and his best friend shopping for new clothes and shoes. They were so excited, but they were also worried that the older street kids might try to steal from them. Even the people in authority would sometimes shake the kids down for whatever money they had on them that day.
It was common to be approached by savvy street kids who could readily recite the names of the 50 states or some other seemingly remarkable achievement and then ask for a dictionary or some other learning tool only to return it later for cash. There are no easy answers when it comes to trying to help in a country as poor as Nepal.
I toured some NGO's that were legitimate organizations that were making a difference in the lives of some of the street kids.
The pictures below are all street kids who performed in a fund raising play. It was heart warming and entertaining.
