Child labourers discover the value of education in Rajahmundry, India

“From child labourer to computer operator”

Veeramani, 16, comes from a poor family from the Adimmadibba slum in Rajahmundry. Her father repairs motorcycles, and her mother is housewife. Veeramani has an elder brother who is married.

When Veeramani completed standard seven, her parents sent her to work as a day labourer. She was distressed about leaving school, but she had to work to help the family survive. Veeramani, however, never lost sight of her dream to return to school.

After two years of working as a labourer, Veeramani came into contact with World Vision through the Rajahmundry project. World Vision staff counselled Veeramani’s parents on a regular basis, and also made them aware of the importance of Veeramani’s education. The parents finally agreed to send Veeramani to World Vision’s bridging school. World Vision supported her with school fees, and she passed her standard ten exams successfully and came second in her class.

Veeramani was also educated about her rights through the World Vision Children’s Club and the Children’s Council meetings. Her parents’ perception on education for girls also changed and they no longer stood in the way of Veeramani’s aspirations to become a computer operator after her college studies.

“When I despaired, a spark brightened my life and showed the way. That spark was none other than World Vision,” says Veeramani.

What are the problems?
General poverty, because of a lack of skills, has given rise to child-labour practices, often involving children as young as 9. Initially, child labour in Rajahmundry was more localised and confined to stone quarries, before extending into other sectors, such as restaurants, grocery shops, and domestic help.

Many girls between the ages of 12 to 15 years are either coerced or sold into prostitution. Regular trafficking of girls and women occur from Rajhmundry and other nearby cities, such as Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad, to Mumbai – India’s commercial capital.

World Vision’s Rajahmundry Child Labour and Trafficking project

The project is being run in 40 slum areas in Rajahmundry, the fifth largest city in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh. World Vision identified an initial almost 5000 children in the 40 Rajahmundry slums as child labourers.

The main goal of the Rajahmundry Child Labour and Trafficking project is to enable working children and children vulnerable to trafficking to improve their lives through prevention, restoration and advocacy.  

With the financial support of generous Kiwis who participated in the 40 Hour Famine, more almost 4000 former child labourers have already been supported to return to mainstream education over the past two years.

How does the project work?

Education is being considered as one of the most important instruments to prevent the occurrence of child labour and trafficking; there always seems to be a distinct correlation between child labour and a higher school dropout rate. World Vision is working with community-based organisations and other stakeholders to help enhance learning environments, build the capacity of teachers, and establish bridging schools and various educational centres and to rehabilitate child labourers and prepare them for formal school enrolment or vocational training.

Educational centres

• Over the past year, World Vision has established six resource centres in six slum areas where child labourers and other children have access to facilities, such as libraries. Children can participate in organised sport and cultural activities, and learn new skills such as playing a musical instrument. Children and their parents also receive counselling and are educated about the importance of education. 
• World Vision facilitates children, communities, civil society organisations and local authorities to work together to advocate for the rights and protection of vulnerable children.
• Community-based organisations monitor the children who return to school and organise tuition centres where children receive additional assistance with their studies.
• Girls who drop out of school are supported at various vocational training centres and trained in skills such as sewing, designing sarees and making soft toys to help them earn a living. The girls also receive training in communication and life skills. 

How can I help?

If you want to support the child labourers of Rajahmundry please lend a hand by participating in the 40 Hour Famine. A portion of the funds raised through the Famine in 2010 will be going to support the Rajahmundry Child Labour and Trafficking project. Please call 0800 800 776 or check out www.famine.or.nz for more information.