Children in tender age are living in the streets of different cities of Nepal. It is seen that these street children have very difficult situation to live in the street. The street trend is quite asocial and vulnerable to the children. Health and related behavior among children is very frustrating. There is a need to have the detailed information on different aspects of street children for different types of intervention. It is necessary to inter-relate the problem of street children and rehabilitation together for ensuring the effectiveness of any programmes.

SAHARA Group believes that street children are more vulnerable from the different angles. They have been struggling in the street with various types of problem such as security, health, transmission of fatal diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B among others. So the children have to be protected in the holistic way and rehabilitate and reintegrate in the families for their socialization. Realizing this fact, SAHARA has conducted a detailed study of street children of Kathmandu valley focusing their different needs and situations they had to face in the street. The report is basically divided in seven chapters and each chapter is focused on the specific issues such as, Individual description, causes of leaving home, situation before and after arriving in the street, HIV/AIDS situation among others. The major findings of the report are as follows:

92% of the total street children in Kathmandu valley are male and the rest 8% are female.

47% of the street children are from better financial family background that has enough earning to feed their kids. Similarly 42% are from very poor family.

Mostly the children at the tender age of 9-11 leave their home if they feel their home is not safe, bore to live, parents show the hatred, parents die or just beguiling with friends.

Average monthly earning of street children is Nrs.500, which is quite few for the individual expenses for the children.

22% of the children responded with their association in shelter and 78% replied that they are not associated with either of the shelter.

The study has shown that 76% of the street children use drugs and 17% of them don’t use the drugs. The rest 7% children gave no comments to this question.

85% of the street children are aware of harmful effect of syringe exchange but 65% use the syringe even though they are familiar with the harmful effect of syringe exchange.

It is revealed from the study that 76% street children have gone through the torture of police, peers and public. 15% children responded with the negative node and the rest 9% gave no response.

The study “Impact Assessment of MRE Materials” was carried out mainly in five districts i.e. Syangja, Myagdi and Baglung of Western Development Region and Banke and Bardiya of Mid Western Development Region of Nepal under the Mine Risk Education Programme supported by Save the Children Norway. The study was carried out using survey and case study methods for the process of data collection. The glimpse of the major findings of the study is given in the following paragraphs.

All the teachers, 98% guardians and 97% children respondents have noticed that they have seen the Mine Risk Education (MRE) materials in their surroundings.

Majority of respondents (91% teachers, 73% guardians and 91% children) said that they have seen the SAHARA posters (the posters with lamb child).

56% of teachers, 42% of guardians and 54% of children agreed that the poster is most useful MRE material while 38% of teachers, 29% of guardians and 39% of children opined that the poster is normally useful.

The study has shown that 88% of teachers, 38% of guardians and 73% of children have shared the information regarding the messages of MRE.

SAHARA Group has initiated a programme for reintegration of conflict-affected children with the support from Save the Children Norway, which lasted for 3 years. During the period, a total of 50 children (Conflict affected, orphan) have been reintegrated with their family and community. The achievement of the programme has proved that the organization working with children should not only be focused on institutional care of children but they also seek the possibility of other alternatives such as reintegration and rehabilitation in the community. So that children will get the social/family environment, which is very crucial for their natural development. To share the experiences, achievements and difficulties in the field during reintegration process, SAHARA Group has published a report of reintegration with the financial support of Save the Children Norway.

The major findings of the report are as follows:

Socialization and adjustment of the children in communities

Academic performances of the children have been in increasing level after reintegration.

Children are quite aware on health and sanitation issues.

Children are healthy with the nutritious food that is locally available.

a

Children always want to live in the family, parents also want to keep them with, but for the future perspective and immediate support to the children is influencing for the children sending to the childcare homes.

b

The child development and learning is best occur in the respected communities.

c

Strong documentation of children of each aspect helps as footsteps for reintegration (Legal, medical, educational, social histories of children, psychological). The documentation supports on age identification, tracing and establish access to parents.

d

Network among different Government agencies and NGOs for the legal right protection, fund allocation, tracing, protection and follow up is one of the strong aspects of reintegration and protection of children.

e

Prevention and protection against abuse and exploitation reduces by the follow up visits and community base protection mechanisms. Children reintegrated in the families might get security (Globally there are many cases of abuse and recruitment of children)

f

Advocacy with local organizations, media, teachers, health workers, religious and community leaders is vital.

g

It is important for NGOs to remain neutral in the ongoing conflict.

h

It is necessary to bind the works with the local NGOs' child rights activities.

i

Support to children (in some cases parents) on child education is the best way to prevent abuse and exploitation.

j

The social workers should be well trained on total concept, process, support provided and protection mechanisms.

HIV/AIDS has generated a global pandemic that far exceeds what was predicted even a decade ago threatening the human security of the world. Since the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has claimed 25 million lives and 40 million people across the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Expanding from some of the African countries, it has now become a global threat and particularly rapidly mounting in Asia and the Pacific. Many programmes throughout the world have been designed and implemented to reduce the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS and to increase the awareness level of the common people but no significant progress has been achieved so far. SAHARA believes that there should be a detailed study prior to starting any programme on HIV/AIDS so that the effectiveness of the programme can be ensured. Realizing this fact, SAHARA has conducted a needs assessment study entitled' Local community partnership to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among children and youth'. This study was carried out focusing two VDCs and a municipality of Syangja district in September 2005 with the financial support from saves the children Norway, Nepal. The population of the study was about 106 people from the community of different ages and profession and gender. It is our experience that integrating HIV/AIDS preventive and care will create a multi-faceted approach to uplifting the status of children and youth given their vulnerability to disease. Hence, this study was an initial step towards achieving that vision. This study report provides the outcomes of the HIV/AIDS prevention and care needs assessment. The major findings of the report are as follows:

Majority of the respondents mentioned they had heard about HIV/AIDS

None of the respondents talked about mother to child transmission.

Majority of the respondents reported that use of condom is a way to prevent HIV/STI infection.

Community members believed that they had the responsibility to support and care for children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS

About 92% of the respondents showed willingness to offer resources on a voluntary basis for the successful implementation of any HIV/AIDS programme.

The community believes in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in other community activities.

Stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS infected/affected person is high due to unresolved myths and misconceptions associated with HIV

There is a high level of predisposing behavior, like having multiple sexual partners yet without regular condom use.