Ei-iE

Child labour refers to work that is a) mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and that b) interferes with children’s schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with...

Child labour free zones are geographical areas – such as a village, plantation area, small island, urban neighbourhood, or cluster of communities – where all children are systematically being taken away from labour and (re)integrated into formal, full-time schools.

The Albanian trade unions FSASH and SPASH (1) have been involved in projects to combat child labour since 2002, with the support of international partners (2). More than 500 trade union leaders and 6,000 teachers have been trained in preventing dropping-out and in reintegrating former child labourers into school. The...

404 children came back to school in September 2024 in the Gihanga commune of Burundi thanks to a project against child labour implemented by STEB, the Union of Education Workers of Burundi, with support from Education International, the Fair Childhood Foundation of GEW, AOb, and Mondiaal FNV.

Education unionists from Burundi, Mali, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe came together in Malawi to learn about successful local efforts to end child labour. From 1 to 6 December 2024, coordinators and project leaders spearheading the unions’ work against child labour had the opportunity to exchange know-how and good practice...

Education International member organisations in Malawi, the Teachers' Union of Malawi (TUM) and the Private Schools Employees Union of Malawi (PSEUM), were able to bring over 1,000 children back to school and prevent 1,200 others from dropping out.

In Mali, the SNEC (National Union of Education and Culture) has contributed since 2014 to the development of child labour free zones in the regions of Bougouni, Niono, Macina, Dioila and Bla in partnership with local NGOs (ENDA Alphalog and CAEB).

Portrait of a teacher: Noumoutieba Diarra, focal point of the Ouroun school

"The happiness expressed by my daughter on her return to school, her academic success and the awareness related to the project convinced me to do everything possible to enable her to continue her education."

The education union CGTEN-ANDEN is helping teachers in Nicaragua’s regions of León and La Dalia to diversify their teaching methods and use traditional music, dance and games to make school fun for students. The initiative is part of the union’s project to eradicate child labour.

In Nicaragua, the activities conducted by CGTEN-ANDEN to create a child labour free zone in La Dalia (a district of Matagalpa) have fostered new enthusiasm for education in the region. 83 teachers from 31 schools received training on topics such as communication and negotiation techniques, leadership abilities, and others. The...

Two sisters enrolled in school after a month of advocacy

In December 2016 and January 2017 (the winter and summer holidays in Nicaragua), CGTEN-Anden organised a summer school in La Dalia for two groups of 30 children who left school early or are at risk of dropping out of school.

A pilot project carried out by the Fédération des Syndicats de l'Education Nationale (Federation of National Education Unions - FESEN) in the region of Sotouboua, in central Togo, is helping to change attitudes so that child labour is no longer considered acceptable. Agricultural and domestic work are the main activities...

In Uganda, the teachers’ union UNATU (1) has linked up with an NGO and a coffee export business to develop child-labor-free areas in the Western Nile region.

“We have always visited the homes of the pupils who drop out of our classes, it’s part of our work."

“Thanks to this project, we have improved the daily follow-up of the pupils in our school."

Before the project was launched, some parents viewed children as a source of income.By making them aware, talking openly with them, giving examples of families where children are educated, we are able to make them understand that they have to bring their children back to school.The support of city councillors...

In Zimbabwe, the PTUZ (Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe) and ZIMTA (Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association) unions have been involved in the Out of Work Into School project since 2015.

"Living conditions are very harsh in this region. Some children have to walk up to eight kilometres every morning and evening, in order to attend the classes."

Projects to address child labour carried out by Education International affiliates in 15 countries (1) have enabled more than 8,000 former child workers to return to school over the past nine years. Awareness-raising campaigns, visits to parents by teachers and local authorities, and the adoption of local by-laws banning child...

From India to Senegal, from Albania to Uganda and Mali, Education International (EI) members raised their voices in support of quality education to commemorate World Day Against Child Labour on June 12th.

“This fight against child labour is grounded in Education International’s belief that education is a human right,” described Pedi Anawi, regional coordinator of EI Africa. “We believe that no child should be left behind.” Child labour prevents children from receiving the education they are entitled to. The online DC (development...

On World Day against Child Labour, Education International (EI) and its member organisations reiterate their commitment to advocate for the millions of children around the globe who are being exploited through child labour of any form. EI is committed to raising awareness, advocating, and working to eradicate child labour and...

“One of my pupils, aged 9, had already left for Kayes, 750 km from our village, to work in a gold mine, because of his family's economic situation. His father told me that if I could go to Kayes, he would allow his son to return to school. I borrowed...