8 SAHAS – our fight against modern slavery
Building a brighter future Paru (22 years, name changed) lives in Nuwakot district, Nepal, with her family. She has been involved with Shakti Samuha projects for a few years. Prior to CLAMP, she was a member of the adolescent group from her community. Here Paru showed passion and active participation in leadership and community mobilisation trainings. Her previous involvement and enthusiasm meant that, in 2018, she was selected as a Youth Change Agent (YCA) under the CLAMP project. She now works to identify vulnerable children in her community and motivates them, and their families, to restart their education. In co-ordination with the ward office and schools, she makes them aware of the risks and dangers of human trafficking, especially for girls. Paru shares, “I have been spreading awareness among the girls and community people focusing on early marriage, as this has been one of the most difficult challenges that I have myself faced.” For many years, Paru faced immense pressure to get married by her family. However, she prevented herself from being trapped by sharing the risks of early marriage with her parents. Now, with the help of her sister and a maternal aunt, she has been able to convince her parents that she needs to focus on becoming physically and economically ready, before getting married. But this change of mindset was not easy. “I used to feel that I was a burden for my family. The idea of being forced to take on the responsibilities of my in-law’s house
and to have children at a young age, when my body and mind would not be ready, scared me. I wanted to study, learn and become financially independent.” In one of the YCA review meetings, Paru shared about the extreme financial crisis in her family and of her own interest in becoming self-reliant. CLAMP staff visited her house and conducted a needs assessment. With referral from the
