How Comic Books Stop Human Trafficking in Nepal

HCC Nepal Comic Books 4 Girls
HCC Nepal Comic Books 4 Girls

HCC Students in Dhading receiving the first of the 50 comics currently distributed

According to anti-trafficking advocates, 54 children go missing in Nepal every day, often becoming victims of human trafficking. HCC, along with CauseVision, is using anti-trafficking comic books in rural communities to help stop trafficking. In the US, comic books operate as nostalgia vehicles, historical movement allegories, and billion-dollar film franchises. In Nepal, comic books save lives. Comic books have a critical and life-saving role to stop human trafficking by educating the most at-risk children and their families to recognize and avoid potential child trafficking situations.

While good estimates are nearly impossible, according to UNICEF at least 13,000 Nepalis are trafficked every year, with more than 7,000 women and children trafficked to India alone. Currently, there are an estimated 200,000 Nepali women and children working in Indian brothels, while at least 17,000 women and girls are being sexually exploited in Nepal while working in bars, restaurants, and massage parlors. Gang rape, beatings, and psychological terror are used to keep victims from protesting or escaping, with some girls forced to have sex with up to 40 men a day. Many victims catch sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS.

Most victims of human trafficking come from the poorest families, often in very rural areas where education is scarce and gut-wrenching poverty is commonplace. Traffickers usually lure victims with promises of employment, marriage, or education. Lack of education and unemployment in Nepal are thought to be huge factors, but considering the staggering numbers of Nepali victims of human trafficking, many Nepali citizens remain largely unaware of the issue.

Comic Book Nepal

Chameli Goes to School in English and Nepali

To solve this problem, HCC has teamed up with CauseVision to distribute the comic book Chameli Goes to School to the most vulnerable, rural communities in Nepal. Chameli is a Nepali comic book aimed to educate children and their families about the reality of the dangers of human trafficking in their own community. After attending an HCC event in Hawaii, Deborah Quigley, a child protection advocate and human trafficking awareness trainer who operates as a consultant for CauseVision, connected HCC to several anti-human trafficking organizations in Nepal. HCC was provided 50 copies of Chameli Goes to School, which we distributed to students in our Dhading Children’s Initiative.

Comic Book Gathering Nepal

Education in a classroom in Dhading

The effect of educating our community in Dhading about the warning signs of trafficking has already armed both our students and their families with information about how to recognize and avoid potential trafficking situations. Without being unnecessarily frightening, these comic books have the effect of relaying life-saving information that can prevent the most vulnerable children from becoming slaves and victims of unimaginable abuse. Before the earthquake in 2015, Dhading was already a common district to fall prey to traffickers, but post-earthquake, the region has become exponentially more vulnerable. The dialogue and awareness provided by these anti-trafficking comics can truly save lives.

For $1, we can print 5 copies of these trafficking comic books to distribute to rural communities vulnerable to trafficking. HCC is looking to raise funds to print and distribute 10,000 copies of this comic to the most isolated communities that are often unaware of the dangers of trafficking. For $1, you can print 5 comics and be a part of a movement working to save a generation of children from unimaginable exploitation and victimization.

To donate to stop human trafficking in Nepal, visit our donate page.

Arun helps rural student

Field Trip Experience by Arun, HCC university student

From December 9th to 11th, I volunteered on a trip to Dhading and Nuwakot with Dinesh Uncle, Laxmi Didi, Nishan Dai, and D.P. Uncle. Our goal was to distribute winter supplies like clothes, books, and calculators to students in these areas. The trip was a rewarding and humbling experience as we connected with the children and saw the impact of HCC’s work.

We left early on December 9th, starting at 6:30 a.m. Our first stop was to meet eight students. We spent time chatting with them about their families, studies, and future goals, and distributed chocolates to them. Then, we went to Dhading Besi and visited another school, where we spent three hours meeting students, handing out supplies, and learning about their lives. A 13-year-old girl, Gita, stood out to me with her maturity and confidence.

Next, we traveled to Darkha, where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery despite the rough roads. We stayed overnight at a local hotel and the next morning met with the community, including the mayor and teachers. We gave supplies to 15 students and had meaningful conversations with locals.

In the afternoon, we visited Bindu Keshar School in Nuwakot, where we played volleyball with eight students and shared snacks. Finally, we reached Uttar Gaya, where we updated records for six students and saw their dedication to learning. We ended the trip by staying at a hotel in Nuwakot before heading back to Kathmandu the next day.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our team, sponsors, and well-wishers for their invaluable support in ensuring the education and well-being of  students in the RISE program. The field visit was a success, providing much-needed support and monitoring to students in the RISE program. Through collective efforts, we continue to create meaningful impacts on the lives of children and their families in Nepal.

 

Recent Posts

Himalayan Children’s Charities creates paths out of poverty for vulnerable children and at-risk youth in Nepal. Through investment in quality education, innovative mentorship and a loving family environment, we help build lives of leadership.

Donate $10 a month

Support HCC’s rural community projects

Donate $25 a month

Send a rural child to school

Donate $100 a month

Give an orphan an education and a safe place to live

Donate $250 a month

Give a university education to an improverished student

Posts by Year Archive