Fellowship #10: Work to free children from domestic slavery in Western Nepal

Location: Dang, Nepal

Watch our video and see how BASE frees domestic slaves!

Backward Society Education (BASE) is a grassroots movement that represents the Tharu, an indigenous minority in western Nepal. Tharu account for 13% of all Nepalis. BASE was established in 1985 by Dilly Chaudhary, the son of two bonded laborers, to use education in the fight against bonded labor (known as kamaiya) and child labor.

Bonded labor in the region dates from the 1950s, when a successful malaria-eradication program opened up Tharu land to settlers. Many families were put at a disadvantage by their lack of education and tricked into selling their land. They then had no option but to work for landowners to pay off their debts. While parents worked on the fields of landlords as share-croppers, their daughters were sent to work in the homes as domestic servants (kamlaharis).

BASE has campaigned successfully against both practices, kamaiya and kamlaharis. BASE led a national movement against kamaiya, which is now illegal. The number of kamlaharis has also fallen sharply in Dang district. But this has opened up new challenges: many freed laborers have struggled to find work and avoid being sucked back into poverty.

Today BASE is known for being one of the largest grassroots movements in Nepal, with over 120,000 paying members, and also for professionalism. It has an annual budget of over a million dollars and manages 14 projects for donors.

Nine Peace Fellows have worked at BASE since 2009. The 2018 Fellow will build on the work of past Fellows and help BASE to develop a start-up for kamlaharis, past and present.

Qualifications

• A commitment to, and interest in, child rights and child labor
• Story-telling skills – writing, journalism, photography and video
• Experience of organizing and fundraising and crowdfunding
• Experience of project management and/or evaluation
• Working experience in Nepal or the region

For More Information

• The blogs of Emily Macdonald (2013)
• The blogs of Sujuita Basnet (2013)
• The blogs of Rachel Palmer (2012)
• The blogs of Chantal Uwizera (2011)
• The blogs of Maelanny Purwaningrum (2011)
• The blogs of Adrienne Henck (2010)
• The blogs of Karie Cross (2010)
• The blogs of Kan Yan (2009)

The beneficiaries

Sima, seen above with 2011 Fellow Chantal Uwizera, was freed from domestic slavery by BASE. AP raised money to cover the cost of her education and several Fellows have blogged about her dramatic story. Peace Fellow Kan Yan (2009) produced a strong documentary, The Price of Childhood, which featured Sima and Sabita, another freed kamlahari.  Read about Sabita and Sima!

The partner

Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, the founder and president of BASE, was born into bonded labor. Both of his parents worked as share-croppers. After building BASE into one of Nepal’s largest indigenous movements, Dilli entered parliament and rose to become Minister of Labor. He has never lost his commitment to community-based advocacy or BASE.

View more BASE photos.

The Peace Fellow

“I feel privileged to have had this opportunity to give a voice for justice to those children who have dismissed the idea of a better life.” -Sujita Basnet the 2013 Peace Fellow in Nepal.