In this special feature from ABCNews on orphanage volunteerism in Nepal, ABC news claims that Kathmandu is a major hub for voluntourists who are attracted to Nepal’s many orphanages and children’s homes. However, as the story points out, only 85% of children who live in Nepal’s orphanages are actually orphans. These children are housed in horrible conditions and are often abused.
Next Generation Nepal works alongside the Nepali government to put an end to abusive orphanages and reunite children with their families. Parents who often give up their children because of promises made to them by traffickers. Sometimes the traffickers can be a child’s own relative.
There are concerns that Nepal’s 2015 earthquake has caused chaos in the human rights arena, and this chaos could add to more trafficking of children into orphanages. The Child Welfare Board in Nepal tries to monitor the situation, but it could be overwhelming with the large number of orphanages in existence. The government generally hands children over to Next Generation Nepal for reunification with their families. Next Generation Nepal boasts a 100% success rate for reuniting children with their families.
The Dark Side of Orphanage Voluntourism in Nepal