Take Action to End Child Labor

According to recent estimates, there are 168 million children around the world who are forced to work, and much of this work is hazardous or harmful to their physical and mental development.[1] There are many ways to join in the fight to end child labor injustices. Whichever method you chose, know that you are making a difference and helping to make the world a better place!

Steps

Becoming Aware

  1. Understand the economic factors. Before we can take action, we need to understand what leads to child labor. In many impoverished countries, children make up nearly half the labor force. Sometimes families need their children to work and help pay household expenses, and employers take advantage of this desperation by forcing children to work long hours in hazardous conditions for low pay and no rights.[2]
  2. Understand the role of education. One of the root causes of child labor is poor or corrupt schools and a “lack of earning during learning.” Most basically defined, “lack of earning during learning” means that children are not earning money while they are attending school; this lack of earning and the need for families to earn more money results in school dropout. Improving access to quality education is one way to intervene and help stop child labor.
  3. Research organizations. Use the internet to find out which organizations support anti-child labor initiatives. Browse their mission statements and events pages to get a sense of their stance on the issues, and how they plan to help exploited children workers. Here are a couple of websites to start with:

Supporting an Organization

  1. Volunteer with a local chapter. Your time and talents are a great resource. There are several non-for-profit organizations, like Human Rights Watch or Global March Against Child Labour, who depend on volunteer help to defend, uphold, and advance human rights.[3]
    • Local chapters especially need volunteers to help in the day-to-day running of the organization. For a listing of local chapters, look here.
    • Reach out to your local chapter through their website or email. They will have more information and specific people to contact on their websites as well as more ways for you to get involved.
    • Offer to help run specific outreach programs or events in your area.
    • Offer to be in international ambassador. If you're interested in helping beyond your local level, volunteer to go abroad and help in those countries most plagued by child labor injustices.
  2. Sign petitions. Organizations strive to influence policy makers and increase awareness through petitions. Through a little online research, you can find open petitions for local and global child labor issues.
  3. Make a donation. Supporting organizations and their efforts through a financial donation is another way to make a difference.
    • Many organizations sponsor public aid programs, collect funds for better schools, and offer financial services for children and their families; often, you can donate directly to these initiatives and individual programs.
    • Be sure to make contributions through reputed organizations so that your donated dollars really count and go where you want them.
    • If you chose to donate clothing, toys, or books, make sure these items are Fair Trade certified and haven't been produced through sweatshops or child labor.

Starting Your Own Group

  1. Recruit members. One of the first things you’ll need to do if you decide to start your own activist group is to recruit like-minded members.
    • Try personally inviting friends, family, and community members.
    • Send out blast emails to other groups you belong to.
    • Post informational flyers in local coffee shops or bookstores.
    • Set up a website to explain and promote your new group.
  2. Hold meetings. Having meetings at a consistent time and place is vital to your group’s success.
    • Meet once a week or once a month, as you and your members see fit.
    • Keep a directory of member’s first names and email address so you can all stay in touch.
    • Offer to host your group meetings at your home, or see if a local hall can donate a meeting room.
    • Introduce new members at the beginning of each meeting and give them an overview of your group’s mission statement and main goals concerning child labor.
    • Develop a clear agenda for each meeting including current events and news stories concerning child labor issues.
    • Encourage everyone to speak-up and share their ideas.
    • Invite members to bring snacks to share -- this helps generate camaraderie, conversation, and idea sharing.
  3. Organize events. This is a great way for your group to make a difference and raise more awareness about child labor injustices. There are countless types of events you can host -- from fundraisers and book drives, to film screenings and public lectures. Whichever event you choose, your efforts will make an impact and bring awareness to your group and anti-child labor cause.

Taking Action in Other Ways

  1. Send letters and emails. Find out who your local government policy makers are and tell them about the need to end child labor, both domestically and internationally.[4]
  2. Make your point through media. Media is an effective tool to reach a large number of people and to share your message.
    • Get involved with local newspapers and magazines by writing columns or op-ed pieces about anti-child labor activism.
    • If you are artistically inclined, considered integrating child labor issues into your next song, poem, short story, or art piece as a way to spread awareness.
  3. Be a mindful consumer. Many of our daily consumables are made in unethical ways, including the use of child labor.[5]
    • Take a little extra time to find out how your clothes and food are made. Don't buy from a company that is known to use child labor.
    • Look for products with Fair Trade logos or that are made with sweatshop-free labor.[6]
    • Consider adding an application to your smart phone or mobile device that helps you search for Fair Trade and ethical products while you're shopping.[7]
  4. Be the change. Passion can be contagious, so share your interest with your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone willing to listen. You're making a difference just by caring and hopefully others will take notice and be inspired to do the same!



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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.laborrights.org/issues/child-labor
  2. ↑ http://gcc.concernusa.org/content/uploads/2014/08/Child-Labor.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.hrw.org/about
  4. ↑ http://www.thenation.com/blog/177161/demand-end-child-labor#
  5. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joan-kelley-weisshaar-walker/child-labour-canada_b_3511715.html?
  6. ↑ https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-sweatshops
  7. ↑ http://fairtradeusa.org/press-room/press_release/fair-trade-products-just-click-away-new-fair-trade-finder-application
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