In light of ‘Word Day Against Child Labour’, an initiative started by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the 12th of June of 2002, this day serves as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
To underline the worldwide efforts to tackle this practice we showcase the role of children as key agents of change in their respective communities.
The Story of Anis
MelJol, our founding partner, who formed an Aflatoun Club in September 2018, served and continues to exist as a space for children to learn about their rights and responsibilities in U.P.S. Chawni Sarkar Gonda. The students of the Aflatoun club then spread awareness among other children about child rights and responsibilities in their respective communities.
During this time, students Toufeek, Mariyam, Imran, Nisha, Vishnu and Rajjab were becoming more informed about ways to help their peers. They took notice of their classmate Anis Singh whose father, a factory worker, was eager to bring Anis with him to work instead of school.
At the time, Aflatoun members were beginning to understand issues surrounding child labour in club meetings and realised that this was a problem that Anis experienced. Together, they took the initiative to convince Anis’ father of the issues surrounding Anis going to the factory, instead of attending school. They helped him understand that child labour is not just a hurdle in Anis’s education, but a crime. Anis’ parents assured the Aflatoun club members that they will no longer have him working in the factory and will encourage Anis to further his studies.
The children under the Aflatoun programme with MelJol have shown a great and positive change. They are not just benefiting from the lessons in the programme, but they are learning to apply their newfound knowledge to advocate for themselves and for one another.
The way the students helped Anis is a revolutionary example of how children can use knowledge of their personal rights and responsibilities to transform their circumstances and create a culture of change within their community.
