“Sejun's family’s current economic situation is also weighing heavily on him - it is something he told project workers made him feel scared and unsafe.”
Meet Sejun
Sejun is 8 and lives with his mother in a small rented room in one of the slum areas in Kathmandu, Nepal. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, he had been regularly attending one of our partner SathSath’s education and learning centres, and his mother had been supporting the family by working as a domestic maid.
However, since the beginning of lockdown Sejun’s mother has not been able to work. Now, despite national restrictions easing, her employers have not asked her to return. Whilst she is currently searching for new employment, pressure is mounting from her landlord to pay rent.
lockdown limitations and mental health
Recently when Sejun was asked what made him happy, he responded; playing with his friends and that he really misses them. He also said that he is desperate to go back to school and to the learning centre. His family’s current economic situation is also weighing heavily on him - it is something he told project workers made him feel scared and unsafe.
During the pandemic, it has been crucial for SathSath to focus on supporting children like Sejun by meeting their immediate and most pressing needs. Many of these children were already living on the very fringes of society, reliant on irregular and low-paid work; whose precarious situations have further deepened during this crisis.
In order to meet children’s urgent needs, SathSath has been distributing emergency provisions as well as educational resources to help children continue with their studies at home. The team have also been supporting the emotional needs of children through telephone counselling sessions.
emergency support for street children in lockdown
Bijay (photographed below) works as a Peer Educator for our partner SathSath. During the pandemic he has been part of the team helping to distribute emergency food packages, soap and face masks to vulnerable children and families. For many children, particularly those who are unregistered and have been denied access to government support, this has been a vital lifeline.
Find out more about our work with street children in Nepal.