Sujal, the son of Shyam and Sabina, comes from a rural area five hours walk from Namo Buddha School in Etay village. The parents admitted Sujal as a boarder in similar circumstances to Roshan and Puja, with a deposit on the school fees. They have never returned. Many efforts have been made to contact the parents without success.
Two years later, Sujal’s abusive father took him out from our school without warning. The child disappeared only to be found again two months later by his grand father. Sujal was begging with street children outside a temple in the big city, with plastic bags on his feet, hair matted and filthy. The old man kept him against his will as a labourer at his derelict farm. It took three visits and tough negotiating to allow the child to go back to school. Alain and the Principal walked the child back to school.
Two years later, Sujal’s father kidnapped his son again, but this time it took us months to trace the child. Both father and grandfather lied and refused to cooperate. Alain feared Sujal had been sold or trafficked, like so many children in Nepal.
Several months later witnesses spotted Sujal. The Police was asked for help but declined, so Alain flew back to Nepal especially, to challenge the local authorities. Sujal was eventually found, hidden by the parents in a dark windowless room. It took two whole days for Alain and the Police to negotiate the return of Sujal back to safety at the boarding school, bringing forward the financial benefits and long term “better returns” for the family with a good education.
Sujal is now back to Namo Buddha School as a full boarder. A signed contract issued by the Police allows the family to have Sujal on holidays, but he has to be in school the afternoon before school resumes, failing that, a prison sentence will be served for child trafficking.
