In the shadow of a broken shrine: Child labor in Nepal

After witnessing the devastation of Nepal’s 2015 earthquake firsthand, Matt Stephens — World Vision’s Senior Technical Advisor for Child Protection — returned two years later to assess its long-term impact on children — particularly the rise in hazardous child labor. In a country already struggling with high rates of child labor, the disaster displaced families, intensified urban migration, and drove more children into dangerous, exploitative work. This blog explores how World Vision is responding through an urban program in the Kathmandu Valley focused on protecting children, empowering families, and addressing root causes. It highlights the need for sustained global commitment to end child labor and build a safer, more hopeful future for children in Nepal.