Rojesh

Rojesh (pictured above) lives with his relatives by the river in Kathmandu, Nepal. The area is known for limited infastructure and the risk of flooding. He shares,

"During monsoon season, flood makes us feel unsafe."

Explaining how he first became connected with the streets, Rojesh continues,

"After my mother passed away, I lived with my step-father in Pashupati who neglected me. So, I used to go out in the streets with other street children for begging and to collect the money in the cremation area.

I lived in the streets for about a year and then my relatives took me under their wing. Before, I felt that street was like my home. I did not know the risk, or the importance of education."

Rojesh is clear about what those risks mean for children, he continues,

“The biggest challenge for street children is to survive on our own means. Also, people tease and bully children without a guardian - especially in the streets. They make us do extra work and run errands for them. It is dangerous since children living and working in the streets have a lot of accidents and sometimes have nothing to eat.”

Working to get by

Rojesh now works as a street vendor, selling bottles of water in the bus park near his neighbourhood, and sometimes collects scrap when he has no money. He explains, “Before I earned by begging. Now, I work as a street vendor selling water bottles. I don’t like the way people curse at me and behave rudely. Sometimes, I also miss school due to my work.”

A normal day for Rojesh starts early. He shares,

“I wake up early to go sell water to the morning buses heading out the valley. Then me and my cousin brother head out to school. After school, I do my homework, look after my younger cousin brother and play with my friends. In the evening I buy more water bottles and get ready for the next day.”

meeting SathSath

SathSath, Toybox's local partner in Nepal, initally met Rojesh during an outreach session in the city. A project worker shares, "When we first met him, he was grieving his mother’s death. Before he had lived with his step-father who didn’t care for him properly. Now he's living with his relatives, he is happy and hopeful about his future."

Rojesh reflects on how the Toybox supported project has helped him;

"SathSath met me in the streets of Pashupati. Later, after living with my Auntie (my Mother’s sister), she reconnected with SathSath through the local volunteer. I received support for my education, my birth registration certificate, stationery and other related needs. I learned that living in the streets is very dangerous. Guardians are needed to help understand the importance of education and teach us how to live. I love to go to Learning Centre and participating in the programmes. I always meet new friends there.”

Pictured below: Rojesh ready to read.

legal identity and a steadier future

For Rojesh, receiving his birth certificate became a turning point. He concludes,

“With the death of my mother, I felt that I could not get my birth registration since I had no parents. SathSath convinced my step-father and I got my birth registered. Now, living with my relatives, I have started school and am very happy - especially when I was appreciated at school for making my birth certificate. My life has drastically changed for the better. Now, I feel that living in the street is not a good thing, I know that I need to study hard and my friends at the Learning Centre encourage me a lot. In the future I hope to be in the army."

Pictured below: Left: Rojesh (L) with his younger cousin and Auntie.

Right: Rojesh (L) and his cousin with their birth certificates.

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