Kathmandu, November 22:

With the objective of helping youths and working children improve their business skills through a series of uniquely-designed participatory activities, UNICEF, in collaboration with Sath Sath and Street Kids International (SKI), a Canada- based INGO, launched a Street Business Toolkit here today. Meredith Gabrielle Lee, an SKI representative, said the toolkit, which does not require high level of literacy, is a very accessible business programme. “The toolkit teaches creative ways to make plans and solve problems in systematic manners.” It is designed for the economic empowerment and capacity building of children who need to work on the streets to ensure their survival and that of their family. Adapted into many languages across the world, the Nepali version is the first adaptation of the toolkit in the South Asia region.

Dr Suomi Sakai, representative, UNICEF Nepal, said: “More and more street children are coming into the streets for better opportunity and safety. But the streets are not always safe.”

She hoped that the toolkit will be of help to the street children. Biso , executive director, Seth seth, said: “Between September and November, 30 master trainers and 60 children have learnt how to operate the toolkit.” The programme will help underprivileged children lead a dignified life and develop their own business and explore income-generating opportunities.