Post by chris on Sept 3, 2007 6:55:36 GMT -5
Do you think we could get this charity on the schedual for the fall for our domain? Artical from new york times
ATLANTA, United States (August 16, 2007) - To fight the scourge of child labor, empower women. That’s a key finding of a report released today, “Caution: Children at Work,” by the international humanitarian organization CARE.
Worldwide, some 218 million children ages 5-17 are involved in child labor, according to UN statistics cited in the report. Of these, 126 million work in hazardous conditions — from toiling on coffee plantations to extracting ore from silver to working as domestic servants.
These children almost always come from extremely poor families who depend on their wages to survive. Maximizing the influence of the women in those families is a vital strategy in the fight against exploitative child labor, according to CARE.
“When a woman is empowered to provide a better alternative for her family, she can help ensure that her children go to school and escape from the trap of dangerous and dead-end jobs,” said CARE President and CEO Helene Gayle.
The report summarizes successful strategies CARE has developed over 15 years of working to combat child labor in 20 countries. Some of its findings:
Women are more likely than men to be involved in projects combating child labor; they play a critical role in changing men’s attitudes about children working and in engaging them in efforts to prevent child labor
Women bear the brunt of domestic labor shortages; helping them to develop alternative sources of income reduces their dependence on children’s wages
Women who are educated about the dangers of child migration, trafficking and labor are highly motivated to address the underlying causes of these problems
Women’s involvement in their children’s education results in reduced dropout rates and better quality of instruction
For example, in the mining area of Potosí, Bolivia, the association of female mine workers created a preschool center for their children. The women then arranged for the Ministry of Education to pay the teachers and for the local municipality to provide school breakfasts.
“We fought hard for the construction of the children’s center, so that our children could get help,” said Maria Choque, 33. “I want my children to study and one day to become professionals. I think it is important that women participate in all kinds of activities, because it helps us to become more aware and learn how best to raise our children.”
The report cites successful examples from Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Nicaragua and Togo. CARE’s findings include the need to strengthen community organizations; create village savings-and-loan programs that provide financial resources for mothers; create vocational training programs for children and their caregivers; launch small-enterprise projects; provide educational opportunities for parents, many of whom did not have the chance to attend school; and create associations to facilitate good relations between parents, children and teachers.
The report features young people like Eunide Joachim, 16, of Gros-Morne, Haiti, who has worked as a domestic servant since her mother died when she was 5 years old. She is enrolled in a vocational education program where she has learned to sew, and has participated in cultural activities, received counseling and attended summer camp.
“I really liked these activities; for the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with other young people, to watch television, to go to performances and to talk in public,” she said. “I am valued more by my fellow students and my host family, and I also believe that my rights are more respected.”
The report includes recommendations for agencies working to combat child labor, as well as how individuals, corporations, policymakers and donors in the U.S. can help.
ATLANTA, United States (August 16, 2007) - To fight the scourge of child labor, empower women. That’s a key finding of a report released today, “Caution: Children at Work,” by the international humanitarian organization CARE.
Worldwide, some 218 million children ages 5-17 are involved in child labor, according to UN statistics cited in the report. Of these, 126 million work in hazardous conditions — from toiling on coffee plantations to extracting ore from silver to working as domestic servants.
These children almost always come from extremely poor families who depend on their wages to survive. Maximizing the influence of the women in those families is a vital strategy in the fight against exploitative child labor, according to CARE.
“When a woman is empowered to provide a better alternative for her family, she can help ensure that her children go to school and escape from the trap of dangerous and dead-end jobs,” said CARE President and CEO Helene Gayle.
The report summarizes successful strategies CARE has developed over 15 years of working to combat child labor in 20 countries. Some of its findings:
Women are more likely than men to be involved in projects combating child labor; they play a critical role in changing men’s attitudes about children working and in engaging them in efforts to prevent child labor
Women bear the brunt of domestic labor shortages; helping them to develop alternative sources of income reduces their dependence on children’s wages
Women who are educated about the dangers of child migration, trafficking and labor are highly motivated to address the underlying causes of these problems
Women’s involvement in their children’s education results in reduced dropout rates and better quality of instruction
For example, in the mining area of Potosí, Bolivia, the association of female mine workers created a preschool center for their children. The women then arranged for the Ministry of Education to pay the teachers and for the local municipality to provide school breakfasts.
“We fought hard for the construction of the children’s center, so that our children could get help,” said Maria Choque, 33. “I want my children to study and one day to become professionals. I think it is important that women participate in all kinds of activities, because it helps us to become more aware and learn how best to raise our children.”
The report cites successful examples from Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Nicaragua and Togo. CARE’s findings include the need to strengthen community organizations; create village savings-and-loan programs that provide financial resources for mothers; create vocational training programs for children and their caregivers; launch small-enterprise projects; provide educational opportunities for parents, many of whom did not have the chance to attend school; and create associations to facilitate good relations between parents, children and teachers.
The report features young people like Eunide Joachim, 16, of Gros-Morne, Haiti, who has worked as a domestic servant since her mother died when she was 5 years old. She is enrolled in a vocational education program where she has learned to sew, and has participated in cultural activities, received counseling and attended summer camp.
“I really liked these activities; for the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with other young people, to watch television, to go to performances and to talk in public,” she said. “I am valued more by my fellow students and my host family, and I also believe that my rights are more respected.”
The report includes recommendations for agencies working to combat child labor, as well as how individuals, corporations, policymakers and donors in the U.S. can help.