Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre
(CWIN) is the pioneer organisation on the rights of the
child in Nepal. Advocacy and protection of child rights,
especially that of the children at risk are primary concern
of CWIN. The mission of CWIN is to work "for children
with children". Anyone aspiring to contribute something
in the field of children's rights must understand and internalize
the true situation and problems of the children. This goal
is not possible without working together with the children
themselves. To materialize this concept, CWIN has been conducting
various community-based programmes. These programmes have
been providing services for the protection of children at
risk and to ensure their development and social reintegration.
Included in such community-based programmes being conducted
by CWIN, are socialisation services, night shelters for
the street children, transit homes for the children at risk,
health and counseling services, a contact centre at Gongabu
bus park for the migrant children at risk, educational support
programmes and a CWIN hostel. In addition to these services,
CWIN has also been providing emergency services including
an ambulance service and a hotline service through CWIN
Helpline (Hotline number 271000) in Kathmandu. The service
is open for 12 hours daily (from 9 am to 9 pm).
It is in the use of these services that
a total number of 8,444 children received help in the year
2000. As emergency services, CWIN Health Clinic and Counseling
Centre provided psychosocial counseling and other health
services to 985 children in approximately 5828 cases. Similarly,
1024 children were helped through various child health camps.
CWIN Help-line (27100) provided emergency services to 2521
children. Likewise, CWIN Socialisation Centre supported
699 children at risk by providing emergency rescue and shelter.
Moreover, CWIN Centre for Children at Risk supported 304
children, CWIN Socialisation Centre, Pokhara supported 582
children and CWIN Hostel supported 34 children. CWIN Balika
supported 101 children at risk by providing them rehabilitation
services, education, skills, and adolescent education. CWIN
Contact Centre at the Central Bus Park supported 323 migrant
children who were at risk. CWIN Self-reliance Centre provided
skill training to 251 young adults, while educational support
was provided to 854 children of underprivileged families,
particularly girls and children of dalits (oppressed community)
and slum communities under CWIN Education Support Programme.
In addition, emergency assistance was conferred to 520 children
of Maoist-hit areas by providing them with clothes, while
various emergency services were provided to other 246 children
at risk.
Similarly, under the community support
programme, CWIN worked with volunteer groups and community
in construction of school buildings in Kalleri village of
Dhading district and Kolma village of Syangja district.
CWIN has completed 17 such projects in the needy areas in
different parts of the country since 1993.
The beginning of the year 2000 was a rewarding
time for CWIN. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund,
globally recognised and honoured CWIN as one of the world's
leaders working in the best interest of children, while
announcing the names of 52 personalities of the world in
State of the World's Children 2000.
In this year, CWIN focused its campaign
on "Ending Child Labour Through Meaningful Education"
CWIN conducted various trainings, orientations and workshops
on the theme of meaningful education. A street drama has
been also prepared and performed at various schools and
public places focusing on the importance of meaningful education.
Similarly, CWIN conducted 50 different trainings on various
issues of child rights in different districts of Nepal.
In addition, CWIN organised a National
Workshop on Young People's Participation Against Commercial
Sexual Exploitation. To promote children's participation,
CWIN published a booklet entitled " Our Rights, Our
Responsibilities". CWIN also published a Briefing Kit
on the "Role of District Child Welfare Boards".
Furthermore, on the occasion of 11th International
Child Rights Day, CWIN and Central Child Welfare Board jointly
organised a Review Workshop on "Decade of Ratification
of UN CRC: Implementation and Achievements of Our Commitment".
A report on "Decade of Ratification of UN CRC: Implementation
and Achievements of Our Commitment" was also presented
at the workshop. CWIN also released a "small book"
to popularize UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on
the same occasion. The book has been cited as the smallest
book of Nepal.
CWIN also organised a National Workshop
and Training on "Medico Psycho-social Counseling for
Sexually Abused and Exploited Children and Youth" in
cooperation with UNESCAP and World Education Nepal.
CWIN has been closely working in eight
districts including Sindhupalchowk, Dolkha, Kavre, Nuwakot,
Kaski, Kathmandu, Makawanpur and Chitwan, intended to promote
and protect the rights of the child. The main programmes
in these districts include, the build up of social awareness
over the rights of the child, to help strengthen District
Child Welfare Board (DCWB) on the Convention of the Rights
of the Child (CRC) to promote the children's right to participation
in society through the Child Rights Forum. CWIN has been
working in Pokhara, Kaski for the protection of the rights
of the children, especially children at risk since 1996.
In addition, CWIN has facilitated in formation
of 240 Child Rights Forums in 22 districts, for the promotion
of children's right to participation. These forums have
provided platform for 37,367 children for child rights.
CWIN has also been developing an effective
information system for dissemination of information on children
and related issues. Every year hundreds of scholars, researchers,
journalists, social workers and students are benefited from
CWIN Resource and Information Centre. CWIN reaches out to
the larger audience through its website at www.cwin-nepal.org
The number of visitors in CWIN website indicates it's effectiveness.
CWIN believes that working for children
is not a mere charity but an action for social change and
is committed to work with children to bring in positive
change towards children's issues.
