We remain committed to providing freedom to Nepali children trapped in India - be they trafficked, displaced or abandoned.

Circuses

Unlike other organisations involved in the fight against trafficking, we directly tackle the problem at its core. We track down circuses suspected of using child labour and engage the local agencies before mounting swift rescues with their support.

With the children safe, we then bring the abusers - trafficking agents and circus owners - to justice. There are currently 14 agents serving custodial sentences up to 20 years for their crimes against children.

This not only takes people out of the loop but serves as a deterrent to anyone else contemplating the exploitation of children.

Children's Homes/Detention centres

Our field staff meticulously research Indian juvenile detention centres which masquerade as children's homes. When it becomes apparent that Nepali children are incarcerated in them, we try to trace family members back in Nepal so that we can return with their support.

All of this work is expensive, labour-intensive and often dangerous - but the sight of freed children being reunited with their family, or simply smiling again (as below) is something we are proud to have played a leading role in facilitating.

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What We Do - Rescue Agency

Rescue of vulnerable children from India

Building on our successes over the past six years in rescuing trafficked children from Indian circuses, we are now developing our rescue capacity further with a full-time rescue agency.

 

In addition to retrieving children trafficked into India, we are also rescuing children trapped in Indian juvenile detention centres - such as the boys pictured, left. Many of these young Nepalis were displaced into India in search of work and found themselves rounded up from the streets.

 

In 2010 we successfully freed children from one such detention centre and more recently, from additional cruel circuses.

 

We now have contacts on the ground in India and the support of local authorities to ensure we can swiftly mount rescue operations to free Nepali and Indian children trapped in these abusive environments.

 

Nepali children are repatriated and where possible reunited with their families. If that is not possible, they are offered the same full-time residential refuge we already provide to over 120 children.

 

We need your support

 

This rescue work and the subsequent care costs place an incredible financial strain on the Trust's resources during what is already a challenging economic period.

 

Please support us in offering children their freedom - without you, this vital work can't go on.

 

You can donate online using the link above, or send cheques made payable to 'The Esther Benjamins Trust' to us at:

Third Floor

2 Cloth Court

London

EC1A 7LS