Street children everywhere, including in Pokhara, live from their day-to-day earnings. Whatever they can scrounge, beg or earn they spend. There is nothing left for tomorrow.

Now, Pokhara's street kids have set up their own Bal Bikash Bank, where they are depositing savings so that they have a tomorrow.

They are not just the depositers but also the owners, the board of directors and the CEO of this unique bank. The boys and girls convince other children to deposit money and maintain the accounts. Now, they are even thinking of paying interest and re-investing and giving out loans. All this gives a new meaning to microcredit: little credit for little people.

Two child rights groups, Balhitkari Pariyojana Nepal and Balshram Unmulan Karyakram, are supporting the venture and say the idea is to give the children something to work towards in the future.

Started in August with 26 depositors, the number has grown to 85 and the total capital deposited is Rs 24,000. Twelve-year-old Sunil KC, a depositor who also serves as bank manager, tells us: "We are thinking of investing the money in some worthwhile venture."

"Some of the children earn more than Rs 100 a day working on the streets," says Bina Silwal of the Balhit Pariyojana, "but we have guidelines so that children have to reveal where they got their money from."

Most of the children earn their money scavenging plastic, paper and metal from garbage piles and selling it to recycling companies. Earlier, they used to buy cigarettes and fritter away the money. Now they come running to put the cash in the bank. Says 14-yar-old Milan Nepali: "this way I know my money is safe and no one will steal it."

This Dasain some of the children withdrew money and took their earnings home to their families. Marvels Parsuram Khawas of the Samayabaddha Karyakram: "When they know how much money they have in the bank, I have seen a new sense of purpose and a new hope in the children."

Durga Humagain in Pokhara