Ten-year-old Pinky had to work 12-hour shifts in a factory in Bangladesh
Imagine a world where children like Pinky could go to school and get an education instead of having to work.
When the pandemic started, Pinky’s parents lost their jobs. Despite trying, they couldn’t find work to sustain their family. Every week, they struggled to make the rent for their dwelling in a crowded slum in Bangladesh.
Pinky’s parents were desperate, and had to make the heartbreaking decision to send 10-year-old Pinky to work at a rickshaw factory to help her family survive.
Pinky was named by her grandmother. In Bangladesh, the colour is tied to a girl’s innocence and playful nature. Unfortunately, Pinky’s reality resembled none of the sweetness associated with her name.
“I love to study, it’s my favourite thing in the world,” says Pinky. “But since the pandemic, I have to work 12-hour shifts without any breaks.”
Pinky (10) was sent to work at a rickshaw factory to help her family survive.
Instead of raising her hand in the classroom to ask questions, Pinky had to work on a dangerous machine too big for her tiny fingers. At just 10 years old, she had to abandon her dream of becoming a teacher to become the family breadwinner.
Pinky’s family was relying on her income to buy food and pay off their debt. Despite illness and exhaustion, Pinky was terrified to miss a single day’s work in case she was replaced at the factory. More than anything, she missed school.
Heartbreakingly, Pinky and her family weren’t the only ones making impossible choices. The fallout of COVID-19 has forced thousands of children in Bangladesh to leave school and get dangerous jobs so their families can afford a plate of rice.
But generous child sponsors are helping to change that.
Thanks to her sponsor, Pinky escaped child labour.
Thanks to her sponsor, Pinky escaped child labour. When World Vision learned she was no longer going to school, they visited Pinky at the factory. Hiding her tears, Pinky let World Vision come to her home, where they persuaded her parents to send her back to school.
Because of generous child sponsors, Pinky, and other kids like her, received the school supplies they need to continue their education, resources that their families just couldn’t afford.
And their parents now have the tools and training to start small businesses so that they’re not cornered into sending their children to work again. Pinky’s mum received a sewing machine and has started to stitch new clothes for her neighbours.
Pinky used to dream of becoming a teacher. Now that she is back at school, Pinky has begun to cherish that dream again.
Thanks to Pinky’s sponsor, children and adults have also been trained on child rights and the importance of education. Pinky’s mum is the biggest advocate for keeping Pinky in school. She understands that getting an education will help Pinky earn a decent living as an adult and prevent Pinky’s children from needing to work.
Pinky used to dream of becoming a teacher like her favourite Bangla teacher, Mrs. Rehana. Now that she is back at school, Pinky has begun to cherish that dream again. Slowly she is returning to her old self and beginning to smile.
Child sponsors address the root cause of child labour – poverty – so families like Pinky’s can make different choices. Right now, you can help a child go to school instead of work. You can help them break free from poverty for good.
When the pandemic started, Pinky’s parents lost their jobs. Despite trying, they couldn’t find work to sustain their family. Every week, they struggled to make the rent for their dwelling in a crowded slum in Bangladesh.
Pinky’s parents were desperate, and had to make the heartbreaking decision to send 10-year-old Pinky to work at a rickshaw factory to help her family survive.
Pinky was named by her grandmother. In Bangladesh, the colour is tied to a girl’s innocence and playful nature. Unfortunately, Pinky’s reality resembled none of the sweetness associated with her name.
“I love to study, it’s my favourite thing in the world,” says Pinky. “But since the pandemic, I have to work 12-hour shifts without any breaks.”
Pinky (10) was sent to work at a rickshaw factory to help her family survive.Instead of raising her hand in the classroom to ask questions, Pinky had to work on a dangerous machine too big for her tiny fingers. At just 10 years old, she had to abandon her dream of becoming a teacher to become the family breadwinner.
Pinky’s family was relying on her income to buy food and pay off their debt. Despite illness and exhaustion, Pinky was terrified to miss a single day’s work in case she was replaced at the factory. More than anything, she missed school.
Heartbreakingly, Pinky and her family weren’t the only ones making impossible choices. The fallout of COVID-19 has forced thousands of children in Bangladesh to leave school and get dangerous jobs so their families can afford a plate of rice.
But generous child sponsors are helping to change that.
Thanks to her sponsor, Pinky escaped child labour.Thanks to her sponsor, Pinky escaped child labour. When World Vision learned she was no longer going to school, they visited Pinky at the factory. Hiding her tears, Pinky let World Vision come to her home, where they persuaded her parents to send her back to school.
Because of generous child sponsors, Pinky, and other kids like her, received the school supplies they need to continue their education, resources that their families just couldn’t afford.
And their parents now have the tools and training to start small businesses so that they’re not cornered into sending their children to work again. Pinky’s mum received a sewing machine and has started to stitch new clothes for her neighbours.
Pinky used to dream of becoming a teacher. Now that she is back at school, Pinky has begun to cherish that dream again.Thanks to Pinky’s sponsor, children and adults have also been trained on child rights and the importance of education. Pinky’s mum is the biggest advocate for keeping Pinky in school. She understands that getting an education will help Pinky earn a decent living as an adult and prevent Pinky’s children from needing to work.
Pinky used to dream of becoming a teacher like her favourite Bangla teacher, Mrs. Rehana. Now that she is back at school, Pinky has begun to cherish that dream again. Slowly she is returning to her old self and beginning to smile.
Child sponsors address the root cause of child labour – poverty – so families like Pinky’s can make different choices. Right now, you can help a child go to school instead of work. You can help them break free from poverty for good.