Nepal – so much is happening.

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One quarter of Nepal’s population live below the poverty line

Nepal is well known for the beauty of its mountains and the colour and warmth of its people. Sadly, however, 25% of the population live in extreme disadvantage below the national poverty line and earn less than 30 cents per day.

Much of remote agricultural Nepal live in Medieval conditions. Historically, the borders of Nepal had been closed for 200 years to outside influence until 1951 which severely delayed the nation’s development. This closure prevented not only foreign social and cultural influences entering but also technological and industrial advancements. In addition to this, national growth was also hindered by a costly 10-year civil war. This has left Nepal the second most poorest country in South Asia.

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The dark side to disadvantage

Many of the remote villagers, living in severe poverty, suffer from a lack of many resources including education. Unscrupulous people, such as child traffickers, take advantage of these families who are not only afflicted by poverty but are also illiterate. Families are deceived into selling their girls aged between 9 – 16 to these criminals resulting in Nepal becoming the source country into India for trafficking. The girls “hired” from the families for very little, are eventually sold for up to $600 per girl. It is estimated that 54 girls and young woman are trafficked every day from Nepal into Indian brothels.