SathSath (meaning” together”) has been work- ing with children and youth living and working on the street in Nepal since 2000. Informally established by a small group of volunteers who had previously worked with/for Street and street based children. SathSath was formed around street educators who had spent many years of their life on the street. Initially, the group undertook field-based activities to provide flexible support to children on and of the street through these street educators and founders of SathSath in 1998. During this period they faced lots of challenges on their causes of work, time and again they have to prove they are working voluntarily. It took a turning point in February 2001, when these group of dedi- cated volunteers legally registered SathSath to give the group a formal identity. Some of the founding members today work professionally. Today, SathSath is an organization recognized as national NGO working for disadvantaged and underprivileged children and youth across Nepal.
SathSath takes a rights-based approach, with the child and youth as the key actors in his/her development and working to expand his/her life choices. Pro- gram provides opportunities for children and youth helping them to develop their capacities and capabilities, which help to improve their situation. We work with children and youth who have had negative experiences of society and have been socialized and grown up in street/social discrimination/abuse, gender biased, worst from of child labor, destitute situations etc which often means a negative perception of self and society.
SathSath uses an alternative livelihood model for realizing target beneficiar- ies’ social and economic rights. Economically means supporting them in their educational and vocational needs towards a sustainable livelihood. Socially this means addressing their need for social integration to access opportunities and resources.
Currently SathSath working with objective to withdraw as many male children and youth engaged in CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploita- tion of Children) and (Protection of Children in Dan- gerous and Exploitative Child Labor) and Campaign Against Children’s Sexual Exploitation in Kathmandu valley. The collaboration is on children exploitation, involvement of children in com- mercial sexual and anti-trafficking issues in the context of Nepal. The project dedicated in working with young children who are involvement in commercial or involved sex with men to men. Probably, SathSath is the first organisation to work with Children (boys) engaged CSEC in Nepal.
SathSath intervention to reach children and youth specially boys engaged in CSEC (Men Sex With Men) to withdraw from their current risky state to feasible alternative means to earn life by means of various activities dedicated to them.
SathSath’s has been on ADVOCACY, AWARENESS, WELFARE SERVICES, SOCIAL REINTEGRATION, OUTREACH, NET- WORK, REFERRALS, Coordination and Collaboration to achieve organi- zation’s goal.
Advocacy/Awareness is one of key program intervention SathSaht is undertak- ing since its inception through street drama, IEC materials, various campaign, lobbying and radio programs.
Works with:
children and youth from street, street-based, sexually exploited and abused, children and youth in commercial sex, children in worst form of child labor, marginalized children and youth