Strengthening community engagement in Nepal during COVID-19: community-based training and development to reduce child labour

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic is leading to serious socio-economic consequences globally. These impacts are disproportionately disruptive to vulnerable groups and low- and middle-income countries. This paper explores the case of Nepal and challenges faced by NGOs and community-based organisations (CBOs) to reduce child labour in brick production, embroidery (zari) and the carpet industry amidst the strict lockdown laws, and industry closure during the pandemic. The case of the Sakriya Project, a child protection initiative headed by World Education Inc. (WEI) Nepal illustrates challenges and opportunities for social work in building capacity to support this vulnerable population during the pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• Nepal
• child labour
• NGO
• community-based organisations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Labor under Grant [IL-32527-18-75-K].

Notes on contributors

Stephen Larmar

Dr Stephen Larmar’s research focuses on children and families with a strong emphasis on child protection and engagement with vulnerable populations. He is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist and is Senior Lecturer at Griffith University.

Merina Sunuwar

Ms. Merina Sunuwar is a Nepalese Hong Konger. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Hong Kong, and is currently a Research Assistant in the Department of Sociology and Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong.

Helen Sherpa

Ms. Helen Sherpa is Director of World Education International, Kathmandu, Nepal, and has worked in the field of child labour and child protection for over two decades in Nepal.

Roopshree Joshi

Ms Roopshree Joshi is currently working as Project director at World Education International for the Sakriya Project. She has a master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Sydney.

Lucy P. Jordan

Dr Lucy P. Jordan holds a Ph.D. degree in social work from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA with research expertise in migration and families and capacity building. She is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Associate Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong.