Children's Stories
Read about children who are now enjoying their childhoods. Instead of spending long days for little or no pay working on weaving looms, they are attending school preparing for their futures.
- Maila
- On December 16, 2004, as part of GoodWeave's regular monitoring process, a GoodWeave inspector found Maila and immediately removed him from the factory. He was brought to Hamro Ghar, a GoodWeave rehabilitation center, where rescued child workers are provided food, shelter an education. At the time Maila was brought to the center, he was completely illiterate—but that soon changed. After completing his education there, he opted for vocational training in carpentry at the Kumbheswor Technical School. He also continued his studies in night school, with all of his expenses provided for by GoodWeave.
- More »
- On December 16, 2004, as part of GoodWeave's regular monitoring process, a GoodWeave inspector found Maila and immediately removed him from the factory. He was brought to Hamro Ghar, a GoodWeave rehabilitation center, where rescued child workers are provided food, shelter an education. At the time Maila was brought to the center, he was completely illiterate—but that soon changed. After completing his education there, he opted for vocational training in carpentry at the Kumbheswor Technical School. He also continued his studies in night school, with all of his expenses provided for by GoodWeave.
- Pravin
- From the time he was born, Pravin's parents wanted only the best for him. They both worked long hours in a Kathmandu carpet factory, and despite their meager income, they managed to send Pravin to school until he was seven years old.
Then Pravin's brother was born—and Pravin's parents were forced to make a choice that no parent should have to make. No longer able to afford Pravin's tuition, they withdrew him from school. Pravin spent his days at home taking care of his brother, longing to join his former classmates.- More »
- From the time he was born, Pravin's parents wanted only the best for him. They both worked long hours in a Kathmandu carpet factory, and despite their meager income, they managed to send Pravin to school until he was seven years old.
- Kumari
- Unlike the three siblings with whom she lived, Kumari was not permitted to go to school; she spent her days at home, doing of all the family's domestic work by herself. The reason was tragically simple: she was a girl, and her three siblings were boys.
- More »
- Unlike the three siblings with whom she lived, Kumari was not permitted to go to school; she spent her days at home, doing of all the family's domestic work by herself. The reason was tragically simple: she was a girl, and her three siblings were boys.
- Kusum
- By the time she was twelve, Kusum had experienced more suffering than anyone should have to endure in a lifetime. Her father, a violent alcoholic, would beat every member of the family with anything he had at hand—blows that eventually led to her mother's death.
Both of Kusum's older sisters had been sold to feed her father's addiction—and when she was just eight years old, Kusum was subjected to the same fate. Her father sold her to a carpet labor broker for the equivalent of just $14.- More »
- By the time she was twelve, Kusum had experienced more suffering than anyone should have to endure in a lifetime. Her father, a violent alcoholic, would beat every member of the family with anything he had at hand—blows that eventually led to her mother's death.
- Roshani
- Eight-year-old Roshani is receiving educational support from GoodWeave in Nepal not because she was a child weaver, but to prevent her from becoming one. After Roshani was born, her parents Gobinda and Patali left their work as hired farm hands and moved to Kathmandu in search of opportunity. They found work in a carpet factory, but the higher wages did not keep up with the needs of their growing family.
- More »
- Eight-year-old Roshani is receiving educational support from GoodWeave in Nepal not because she was a child weaver, but to prevent her from becoming one. After Roshani was born, her parents Gobinda and Patali left their work as hired farm hands and moved to Kathmandu in search of opportunity. They found work in a carpet factory, but the higher wages did not keep up with the needs of their growing family.
- Akkas
- Akkas lived with his parents and five siblings in the Ratan District of Nepal. His father earned a meager salary as a rickshaw driver but spent most of it on liquor. Akkas could not afford the school admission fee and was forced to drop out of his studies and, in his words, "drop his dream."
One day his parents borrowed the equivalent of $7 from a thekedar (debt broker) in exchange for Akkas and his older sister. Akkas was taken to a carpet factory, where he was forced to weave rugs from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. with one break to eat...- More »
- Akkas lived with his parents and five siblings in the Ratan District of Nepal. His father earned a meager salary as a rickshaw driver but spent most of it on liquor. Akkas could not afford the school admission fee and was forced to drop out of his studies and, in his words, "drop his dream."
- Sanita Lama
- In 2007, GoodWeave supporters learned about Sanita Lama, dubbed our “young hero,” when she spoke before audiences from Boston to Miami to share her experience growing up as a carpet kid in Nepal.
- More »
- In 2007, GoodWeave supporters learned about Sanita Lama, dubbed our “young hero,” when she spoke before audiences from Boston to Miami to share her experience growing up as a carpet kid in Nepal.
- Laxmi
(2)-resized.jpg)
- When inspectors found six-year-old Laxmi working in a Nepali carpet factory, in 1997, she told her rescuers she had to work to survive. Her family had migrated from their village to Kathmandu after a landslide wiped out their home. Her mother, who usually worked the looms, fell ill, and her father squandered his small earnings on liquor and abused his wife and children.
- More »
- When inspectors found six-year-old Laxmi working in a Nepali carpet factory, in 1997, she told her rescuers she had to work to survive. Her family had migrated from their village to Kathmandu after a landslide wiped out their home. Her mother, who usually worked the looms, fell ill, and her father squandered his small earnings on liquor and abused his wife and children.
- Gwen and Thila
- "What stays with me is the kids running to my room every day in the morning—their faces and smiles," recalls Gwen Straley, upon her return from volunteering with GoodWeave Nepal. The images of the children remain vivid in her mind's eye.
- More »
- "What stays with me is the kids running to my room every day in the morning—their faces and smiles," recalls Gwen Straley, upon her return from volunteering with GoodWeave Nepal. The images of the children remain vivid in her mind's eye.
- Sandesh
The following letter was sent to us by 13-year-old Sandesh, a former child laborer rescued by GoodWeave.
My name is Sandesh. I am 13 years old. I used to work long days in a carpet factory but fortunately a GoodWeave inspector rescued me one year ago and now I am in school.
- More »
- Maili
- Maili was born in Ramban, Bara district, in the mid-region of Nepal. The strained smile on her face developed five years ago when she became an orphan. Her mother died during childbirth and out of grief her father committed suicide.
- More »
- Maili was born in Ramban, Bara district, in the mid-region of Nepal. The strained smile on her face developed five years ago when she became an orphan. Her mother died during childbirth and out of grief her father committed suicide.
- Narayan
- The following letter was sent to us by Narayan, a former child laborer rescued by GoodWeave.
I know the problems of working children as I worked for about eight years as a child laborer in the carpet industry. I have the answers to questions like: What work do children do in carpet factories and for how long do they work? How much are they paid for their work? What are the reasons behind child labor?- More »
- The following letter was sent to us by Narayan, a former child laborer rescued by GoodWeave.
- Manju Karki
- Manju Karki was permanently injured from working as a child on looms in Nepal, but today she is a young activist who has been inspired by the founder of GoodWeave to help other children escape child labor.
- More »
- Manju Karki was permanently injured from working as a child on looms in Nepal, but today she is a young activist who has been inspired by the founder of GoodWeave to help other children escape child labor.
- Raj Kumar
- Raj Kumar has a thriving sewing business. Students who attend GoodWeave schools wear uniforms tailored by Raj and his staff—a uniform that Raj himself once wore when he attended a GoodWeave rehabilitation center. His story is remarkable because he comes from an extremely poor family. His mentally disabled father was barely able to look after Raj and his four brothers and sisters, which is why Raj started weaving carpets when he was a child.
- More »
- Raj Kumar has a thriving sewing business. Students who attend GoodWeave schools wear uniforms tailored by Raj and his staff—a uniform that Raj himself once wore when he attended a GoodWeave rehabilitation center. His story is remarkable because he comes from an extremely poor family. His mentally disabled father was barely able to look after Raj and his four brothers and sisters, which is why Raj started weaving carpets when he was a child.
