2. Jagaran Manch Nepal (JAFON)2.1 Establishment
There are now many organizations in Nepal working for street children. Jagaran Manch Nepal (JAFON) is among them. JAFON was founded on 8 April 2000 by Rewat Raj Timilsina. This organization is different from other organizations in various respects. Likewise, its operation also differs from that of others. Timilsina is a former street child himself. That is why JAFON’s campaign has a particular significance.
The story of JAFON would be incomplete without a mention of Rewat Raj Timilsina. The story of his street life is long. His struggle from the streets to the successful life he now leads is a source of inspiration to many. His struggle is linked with JAFON and many street children associated with this organization. Timilsina is originally from Siraha. He left his house when he was 7 years old because of family dispute. His parents quarreled and started to live separately. Thereafter, his mother took him to Birgunj for his studies. In those days, she was a teacher in Birgunj. While in Birgunj, Timilsina made friends with the city boys. He was more interested in movies and entertainment than in studies. He started hanging out with boys his age, watching movies, wandering at night and not returning home. He deviated from studies.
Four years later, Timilsina entered Kathmandu with eleven other boys, expecting to earn money in the capital city. On the first day, the boys stayed in Dhalko[i]. His friends knew a junkyard, where they could exchange waste tin and plastic for money. For every kilo, they made Rs 12-15. Timilsina worked there for six months. Then he left Dhalko and moved to Bagbazar[ii]. Thereafter, he started living on the streets. He spent almost 12 years of his life on the streets. He has many bitter experiences of his street life.
Through his friends, one day, in 1992, he ended up in CWIN, which works for street children. In those days, CWIN was working on a play with the Aarohan Theatre Group[iii]. 12 youths were needed for the play, for which Timilsina was also selected. Aarohan trained them for a month, and they prepared a play on street life. They play was titled Mahanagarka Anagarik haru (Non-citizens of the Metropolitan). Directed by Mr. Sunil Pokhrel and acted in by street children, including Timilsina, the play was staged in various places. Timilsina stayed with CWIN for almost a year, after which he started living in Gwarko[iv] with other friends. After some time, Timilsina moved into a hostel for street children, which was operated by the same Aarohan Group. During his stay there, he got a job as trainer in a program called ‘Child to Child’, which was related to child rights. He then left the hostel and did this work for 10 months. After that, he moved to Pokhara for to work as the chief filed officer at the Child Welfare Society.
He had the opportunity to work with several organizations working for street children. However, he and his friends were not happy with the way some of these organizations operated. One day, they felt that they could start their own organization. In 2000, Timilsina set up an awareness group for the welfare of street children, together with former street children friends. In the same year, Timilsina solely established JAFON. Presently, Timilsina is fully involved with this organization.
JAFON is a social organization operated by former street children, who spent more than 12 years on the streets. The organization has been operating its programs throughout Nepal and making an effort to create an environment where there will be no more children on the streets. Presently, it is operating various programs for the street children in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. It has its offices in Kumbheshwor, Lalitpur.
At first, the JAFON office was in Anamnagar[v]. The story of struggle of this newly established organization is memorable. Its first objective was related to waste management. Its other objective was to create employment opportunities for street children and to save the remaining money for the welfare of street children. This work was initiated by two street youths. They went from door to door to collect waste materials. During the first few days, they were involved in the waste management of seven houses. This number has now increased to 400 houses, in which 12 youths are involved. This program is still running under the leadership of JAFON, providing employment opportunities to several street youths.