Dharan /kathmandu, May 26 -- For Vinay, home had become unbearable long before he turned eight. The constant quarrels inside the house and the sense of insecurity pushed him to make a decision no child should have to make: he left home.

While children his age slept in the warmth of their families, Vinay spent his nights on cold pavements and street corners in Dharan. In the beginning, the silence of the night, hunger and unfamiliar faces terrified him. Over time, he met other children living on the streets and slowly found a world of his own.

Street life started to feel enjoyable once I made friends," Vinay recalled.

During the day, they wandered around Bhanuchowk market, the bus park and nearby streets. They begged for money, carried ...