OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION

2.1      CWIN

The child workers in Nepal concerned center (CWIN) are a national social organization working for the promotion & protection of the right of the children, especially the rights of working children and children at risk. It was established in 1987 initiated by a group of university students’ activists. Now CWIN has become a recognized organization in national as well as international level. 

CWIN had started with ‘the voice of child’ was the first against the child labor exploitation in this country. CWIN does deny the necessity of part time work for children is given socio-economic conditions. But in general CWIN recognized child labor as a form of socio-economic exploitation of children covering the denial of basic education, long working hours, under or no payment, forced labor and hazardous working conditions. In Nepal, exploitation of children exists mostly in the form of child labor, trafficking of children, child marriage, street children and bonded labor. The elimination of child servitude is the ultimate goal of CWIN.

2.2      OBJECTIVES:

General Objectives:

 Strongly believing in and supporting the UN declaration on the rights of the child and UN convention on the rights of the child, CWIN aims to build up and empower a social movement in order to uproot all forms of exploitation and oppression of children through the social conscientisation process, so that children of Nepal and elsewhere may be able to enjoy a dignity childhood.

Specific Objectives:

-      Work for the immediate abolition of the worst forms child labor and for the progressive elimination of child labor exploitation in general.

-      Promote and protect the rights of the child with a mission of "action through advocacy".

-      Keep abreast of the realities of working children and children at risk through regular action research, lobbying, advocacy and solidarity in action.

-      Organize both local and international concerned groups and campaign against all forms of child servitude, including child labor, trafficking and sale of children, child marriage, child bonded labor and all forms of crime against children.

-      Conduct basic child development and support activities for underprivileged children and children at risk at both local and national levels.

2.3       CWIN PROGRAMMES OF ACTION

According to CWIN plans of action. The programmed of CWIN can be divided into the following categories.

1.     Action Through Advocacy:         Lobbying, campaign, social conscientisation and social mobilization on rights of the child, publication, media sensitization and production of campaign materials.

2.     Child Right Forum:         This is the forum of children for children to contribute in the broader movement on the rights of the child through child participation.

3.     Action Research & Training:       About 35 action research, studies and survey studies accomplished, publication and dissemination of information. Training for human rights and child rights activities, teachers, police, journalists, politicians and researchers.

4.     Resource and Information Center:         Information maintained on 150 child related titles, 4000 books, 400 periodicals, 300 videos, photographs on 35 titles, audio cassettes and assortment of other information materials. Dissemination of information through publications, reports, websites, and mailing list.

5.     Partnership, Networking and Alliances:  At local, national, regional and international levels to strengthen the child right movement.

6.     Social Wel-being Program:        Rescue, repatriation, socialization & social re-Integration for children at risk.

a.     CWIN Socialization Center (CSC) (Since 1989), open house and drop in center for street children (300 a year)

b.     CWIN ESP (Since 1991), Education support program for children in need (100 a year)

c.     CWIN Health Clinic and Counseling Service Center (Since 1992), Health clinic & sick room for street and underprivileged children. Psychosocial counseling service is also added with the CWIN Health Clinic since 1998 30 per day.

d.     CWIN children’s Home (1994-1998), Transit center for boys under 10.

e.     CWIN Center for Children at Risk (Since 1995), Rescue, relief and rehabilitation center for boys above 10 (150 a year)

f.      CWIN Balika (since 1995), Transit center for girls children at risk (180 a year)

g.     CWIN Socialization center Pokhara (since 1995), Socialization center for street and working children in Pokhara (100 a year)

h.     CWIN center for Self Reliance (Since 1995, formerly called CWIN center for Skill), Skill training, education program for children above 14(capacity 30)

i.      CWIN Hostel (Since 1998), Hostel for CWIN sponsored school children (capacity 30)

j.      CWIN Help line (Since 1998(, Child rights watch, emergency relief and counseling service for children at risk. An ambulance service is also available for children. Including victims of child abuse & violence.

k.     CWIN Contact Center (Since 1999), Contact center for migrant children at risk. This program is situated at the Central Bus Terminal, consisting child rights watch and passengers awareness on the rights of children at risk.

 2.4      CWIN CENTER FOR CHILDREN AT RISK

Among these different centers CWIN center for children at risk was selected for study. This center was started in May 1995 on partnership with PLAN International Nepal, to address the growing problem of children at risk in Nepal. This program aims to work for the rights, empowerment and underprivileged children living in the most difficult circumstance.

            2.5.1   General objectives:

This center works as a crisis and referral center for socialization, education/training and rehabilitation for children at risk and facilities programs for advocacy, social mobilization and social conscientisation on the rights of the child.

2.5.2                FOCUS GROUPS:

This center focused on the child labor and children at risk who are victim of social, economical political, family exploitation and abuse who live in very difficult circumstance, such as:

1.     Working children at high risk condition

2.     Street beggars & Rag pickers

3.     Migrant working children

*            Children in Debt Bondage

*            Restaurant boys

*           Domestic child labor 

4.     Lost, orphan & abandoned children

2.     Children of street families

3.     Children in conflict with laws