Esther Benjamins Trust
Encyclopedia
The Esther Benjamins Trust is a UK-registered charity which rescues and rehabilitates Nepali child trafficking victims, provides residential refuge to street children
and dependents of prisoners and supports education programmes for deaf and disabled young people in Nepal.
Its two main programmes are PACT and CEDAR:
in Indian circuses. Many of these children - primarily girls - were sold by their impoverished families for as little as £15 to trafficking agents who visited their villages. The girls were then sold to the circuses of India, where they are forced to work 18-hour days. Nearly all of the girls endure physical abuse
; many are also sexually assaulted
and raped.
After their rescue, any children who can be reunited with their families return home. Unfortunately, the majority would be immediately sold again (often into prostitution), or after anything up to 15 years in the circus have no family to return to. The Esther Benjamins Trust provides compassionate residential care
to these children and young women, with a keen emphasis on psychological support, education, vocational training
and employment creation to ensure their rehabilitation provides them with the opportunity to enjoy happy adult lives.
Art workshops are offered to older girls who are too scarred by their experiences to benefit from beginning a formal education
. Many of the students from these courses go on to enjoy rewarding employment with a socially-responsible company, Himalayan Mosaics. Their work is commissioned by people all over the world, while any profits are invested into The Esther Benjamins Trust's efforts to fight child trafficking.
The children are encouraged to develop academically and socially so that they are equipped with the skills and resourcefulness to thrive upon their full reintegration into Nepali society.
The programme also supports education initiatives for deaf and disabled children and young people in Nepal, who are often denied any form of education and disregarded by society.
Street children
A street child is a child who lives on the streets of a city, deprived of family care and protection. Most children on the streets are between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old.Street children live in junk boxes, parks or on the street itself...
and dependents of prisoners and supports education programmes for deaf and disabled young people in Nepal.
Its two main programmes are PACT and CEDAR:
PACT - Programme Against Child Trafficking
PACT's focus is on the rescue and rehabilitation of Nepali children and young women who have been trafficked across the border to work in bonded labourDebt bondage
Debt bondage is when a person pledges him or herself against a loan. In debt bondage, the services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined...
in Indian circuses. Many of these children - primarily girls - were sold by their impoverished families for as little as £15 to trafficking agents who visited their villages. The girls were then sold to the circuses of India, where they are forced to work 18-hour days. Nearly all of the girls endure physical abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
; many are also sexually assaulted
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
and raped.
After their rescue, any children who can be reunited with their families return home. Unfortunately, the majority would be immediately sold again (often into prostitution), or after anything up to 15 years in the circus have no family to return to. The Esther Benjamins Trust provides compassionate residential care
Care of residents
Residential care refers to long-term care given to adults or children in a residential setting rather than the patient's home. People with disabilities, mental health problems, or learning difficulties are often cared for at home by paid or voluntary caregivers, such family and friends, with...
to these children and young women, with a keen emphasis on psychological support, education, vocational training
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
and employment creation to ensure their rehabilitation provides them with the opportunity to enjoy happy adult lives.
Art workshops are offered to older girls who are too scarred by their experiences to benefit from beginning a formal education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. Many of the students from these courses go on to enjoy rewarding employment with a socially-responsible company, Himalayan Mosaics. Their work is commissioned by people all over the world, while any profits are invested into The Esther Benjamins Trust's efforts to fight child trafficking.
CEDAR - Child Education, Development and Reintegration
CEDAR is designed to assist street children, dependents of prisoners and at-risk siblings of existing trafficking victims through its residential refuges.The children are encouraged to develop academically and socially so that they are equipped with the skills and resourcefulness to thrive upon their full reintegration into Nepali society.
The programme also supports education initiatives for deaf and disabled children and young people in Nepal, who are often denied any form of education and disregarded by society.