Esther Benjamins Trust

The Esther Benjamins Trust

A Charity whose workers are dedicated to rescuing and recovering children from slavery.

Philip Holmes: Founder / Director
with refuge children in Godawari

	Camilla Kinchin: Fundraising Coordinator, of the Esther Benjamins Trust says: The Esther Benjamins Trust (EBT) is the largest UK charity that works solely for Nepalese children. We have been working in Nepal since 1999, focusing on those children that are at the margins of society or who have been totally overlooked. EBT has three Programmes in Nepal:
	CEDAR (The Child Education Development and Reintegration Programme) offers residential care to children who were once in prison alongside their parents, to children who were on the streets and to children who were trafficked to Indian circuses and their vulnerable siblings. The Programme aims not only to provide for basic needs but to bring the very best out of all the children and prepare them to become well rounded adults. Children are looked after in excellent facilities in Bhairahawa, Kathmandu and Hetauda.
	PACT (Programme Against Child Trafficking) has evolved out of our early project work with Nepalese children trafficked to Indian circuses. This project work has expanded rapidly and the Programme is devised not just to shut down this particular child trafficking route but the entire (longstanding) child trafficking from the south and southeast of Nepal. This is quite achievable although on the face of it the problem has seemed historically to be insurmountable. The PACT Programme has elements at all project locations.
	The Threshold Programme is the smallest programme. It spans project work in support of a school for deaf children in Bhairahawa and a disabled day care centre in Butwal.

How to Help

Sponsor a child

We currently have approximately 90 children in long term care in our Nepal refuges, these children originating from the prisons, the streets or the circuses. As numbers grow we have an ongoing need for new sponsors who are willing to donate £25 per month (or the equivalent in other currencies) that will be spent directly on the welfare and care of an individual named child. In return for this support the sponsor receives a six monthly update on the child's progress along with a latest photograph and drawing.

Commission a Mosaic!

We are inviting you to commission a hand made mosaic made by former circus returnees which can be made as an individual or on behalf of a school, club, church or company. Once completed the mosaic may remain in Nepal to add colour and beauty to a children’s home, school or disabled day care center while at the same time raising awareness about the dangers of trafficking. If the completed mosaic remains in Nepal the artist and the donor will be acknowledged with a small inscribed plaque. Alternatively the mosaic can be sent to the donor (which will incur an additional cost).

Visit www.ebtrust.org.uk/site/mosaics to view our online mosaic exhibition and commission your own mosaic. Alternatively contact us info@ebtrust.org.uk to request further information about commissioning a mosaic or to discuss your particular wishes.

Take part in one of our exciting challenges

Every year we have exciting challenges planned to help raise funds for our work. Later this year we have organized a five-day trek to Gran Paradiso Peak through Mountain Tracks, and early next year we have treks in Nepal to Everest Base Camp and Helambu with The Ultimate Travel Company.