The theme proposed by the ILO for this year's World Day is "Universal Social Protection to End Child Labor." "Government social protection systems are essential to combat poverty and vulnerability and to eradicate and prevent child labor. Social protection is both a human right and a powerful policy tool to prevent families from resorting to child labor in times of crisis," said the ILO.
According to ILO data at the beginning of 2020, there were about 160 million children - 63 million girls and 97 million boys - involved in child labor, equivalent to nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. These are millions of children and young people who - even when forced to work for only a fraction of the day - are still deprived of time that is useful for their education, rest, the right to leisure... and who see their life prospects progressively narrowed.
All over the world, Salesians have initiated programs and projects to take children out of work, provide them with education and make sure their basic needs are met.
For example, in Benin, they animate four "Foyer Don Bosco" centers: two in Porto-Novo, one in Cotonou, and one in Kandi. In these centers, the Salesians take in children who had abandoned their families because of poverty or other serious problems and are trying to survive with a few odd jobs; minors whose parents had entrusted them to artisans so that they could learn a trade, but who in truth were treated like slaves; or minors who work to help their needy families. To all of them, the Sons of Don Bosco offer psychological assistance for initial placement first of all, and then also health care, hospitality, housing, clothing, school reintegration, and vocational training. Some young people study until they graduate, while others receive vocational training. For all, a new life begins.
In Rango, Rwanda, Salesians have been operating a program known as "Ejo Heza," which in the local language means "tomorrow will be better." It has been operating since 2020 to help children affected by child labor and who live abandoned to themselves along the city streets. The project involves initial contact with the youth and an invitation to access psychological, educational, and social rehabilitation; then continues with progressive pathways to foster trust, self-esteem, and empowerment; and culminates, where possible, with family reunification.
Finally, in India, there is a very active "Child Safety Net" program put in place by "BREADS," the Bangalore Provincial Planning and Development Office, which from July 2021 to January 2022 alone has freed 127 minors from child labor. These are boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 who were engaged in sewing bags and caps, dyeing saris, glass cutting, printing, paper making, steel chair making, food production, and construction work. They were forced to work from morning until late at night in unhealthy, dismal, and suffocating conditions, with little or no medical care. All rescue operations were conducted in cooperation with local police and labor departments.
Source: Salesian Missions
