Govind Prasad Khanal, is a fifteen-year-old boy who belongs to the Ilam district in Nepal. His is a family of seven with four brothers and one married sister. Agriculture is the family's main source of income but they no longer own any land. Whatever little ownership they had was mortgaged and later sold due to his father's illness.

Govind's tryst with harsh labour and cruel living conditions began at a public school owner's house where he started work as a domestic servant. His employer, Mr Prakash Burathoki lured Govind to work with a promise of educating him. Once at his employer's house there was no education, only hard work.

Besides the regular housework, Govind's main job was to look after the pets in the house. For one year, he worked at the house without any wages. Thoughts of running away took seed in his mind but his hometown was too far away for him to put his thoughts into action. Finally, one day when he could take no more, Govind lied of his illness and did not report to work. He never went back.

Since Govind had no financial support and he could not go to school even if he wanted to. To keep himself alive on the streets, he took up work in a telephone booth. For five months, Govind worked at the booth without any wages. Being an intelligent and alert boy, Govind learned about the Mukti Ashram- a programme to save children from bonded labour in New Delhi, India. It is now two years since he is in the Ashram where he is given formal education along with other children. Though deprived of his childhood, Govind's acumen and energy are finally channeled into the right direction. Today, Govind is an emancipated and conscious child rights activist. He has set up his own NGO in Nepal which works for the cause of children. He takes part in a number of seminars and workshops both nationally as well as internationally to spearhead the cause of child rights. His organisation is a part of SACCS.