Rabin is back and his story by Amon thapa

I am Amon Thapa, one of the members of Mysmallhelp, Nepal. My wife and I are taking care of three children Parang, Samual and Rabin (all poor children that needed care). Rabin was the first child I kept in my house to give him a better life as he had previously been living on the streets. Since Rabin ran away in November 2007, I decided to look after Samuel who is equally poor but not from street. Bringing up the street child is not an easy task. Street children are use to freedom to do anything they want without anyone control and fear of anyone. Rabin was a street child but with the love and care of my family, he slowly changed his bad habits. Staying in a house without much freedom was very difficult for Rabin as it is for most ex street children.

After staying for more than 9 months in my house, Rabin decided to run away to live a street (freedom) life. The Mysmallhelp team and I searched for Rabin for months but we couldn’t find him. After more than a year Rabin arrived back at my house suddenly on 17th February 2009 without any warning. First of all I was very surprised to see him but I felt very happy to have him back safely in our home.

With much anticipation, I asked him why did you run away and why did you come back? First of all he did stay silent but later he started telling his story and he said he felt very guilty for leaving the house.

Over the past year Rabin has suffered a lot in the street and at his brother’s house. According to him, as he left my house, he went to Basantapur (the heart of Kathmdandu where we find lots of tourist as well as street children) and from there he went to Balaju Street Child Care Center where he stayed for few months. Living in a "care centre" he didn’t feel safe so he again went back to street and started begging for money, washing people’s bike and cars in order to earn enough money to buy basic food to survival. Days and months past and around May-June, on Dashain, one of the biggest Hindu festivals, he went to his own brother’s house to meet his sister. He started living with his brother and sister. After few months his brother told him that he couldn’t provide him food anymore if he does not work. So, he was forced to work in his brother’s field by plugging field with the help of Ox. After plugging, he was taken to work in his own village to do road construction. He had to carry stones for days. He found the work very difficult and that moment he felt very guilty leaving my house and study. He decided to come to my house to study again. He asked his brother to go to Kathmandu and study. So he found his way back to our house and asked for our help again.

This time, he has promised me not to run away from my house if we would pay for his studies. He told me he really wants to study and be a good person. His habits have improved now and he enjoys studying with his friends Samual and Parang and wants to join a school. I am planning to keep him in the same school where Samual studies. The next session is starting in April.