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Children sing and dance to the tune of a Nepali rhyme in the Early Childhood Development Centre near the Sanischare camp hosting refugees from Bhutan in eastern Nepal (Picture courtesy : UNHCR/P.Ghimirey)
“He was a very difficult child. He used to cry and remain aloof some of the time,” remembers Durga Wagle, facilitator at the Centre. Now Kriti is popular for being the most enthusiastic and bright.
Kriti went through a very difficult period. His father was an alcoholic and his mother unable to cope, left the family and remarried. Kriti lives with his 50-year-old grandmother who cannot provide good care and attention as she works outside the camp during daytime. Many times Kriti is alone during the day, depending on neighbours for any help.
The ECDC built by the UN refugee agency supports more than 30 children like Kriti in the age group of two to five, both from the refugee and host communities. It was built near the Sanischare camp for easy access for both communities. The camp still hosts some 10,940 refugees from Bhutan who came to Nepal in the early 1990s.
The concept behind the Centre is to help children who are vulnerable to face protection risks as their parents leave them with inadequate or no supervision when involved in their daily activities.
“Looking at the desperate situation of many children like Kriti both in the camps and in the host community, we felt the need for a special day care facility which provides a safe and nurturing environment for these children,” said Sangita Khatiwada, Senior Protection Assistant at UNHCR’s sub-office in the eastern Nepal town of Damak.
