7,000 kids rescued from labour
Oct 22, 2009
A TOTAL of 7,538 children in Acholi, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions have been rescued from forced labour and returned to school.
By Chris Ocowun
A TOTAL of 7,538 children in Acholi, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions have been rescued from forced labour and returned to school.
Michael Ocan Ongom, the Livelihood, Education and Protection assistant program manager, said the children were herding cattle, working at stone quarries, sand mines and laying bricks.
Others were involved in agriculture, prostitution, carrying out petty businesses and doing domestic jobs like baby-sitting.
The children have been enrolled in 31 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and six non-formal vocational institutions in the north, Ongom explained.
“Over the last two years, we have withdrawn 2,504 children involved in the worst forms of child labour in Kitgum district and taken them back to primary, secondary schools and vocational training centres,†he said.
“In Pader district, 1,462 children engaged in labour were returned to school, while Gulu had 1,470 children, Lira 1,255 and 847 girls and boys in Karamoja were withdrawn from herding cattle and taken to school.â€
Ongom called on the Government and donors to address the causes of child labour such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict and domestic violence.
“In some districts like Kitgum, we created village saving associations to provide loans to the parents of children engaged in child labour. In Gulu, a child labour committee has been set to monitor workplaces, talk to employers and ensure that child protection laws are enforced,†he explained.
“Apart from returning the children to school, we pay their fees, buy them uniforms and scholastic materials.â€
Ocan expressed concern that some children were dropping out of school despite being rescued from labour. “In Gulu, about 44 of the children have dropped out of school.â€
He, however, said 93 children in the district had completed primary, secondary and vocational training.
A TOTAL of 7,538 children in Acholi, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions have been rescued from forced labour and returned to school.
Michael Ocan Ongom, the Livelihood, Education and Protection assistant program manager, said the children were herding cattle, working at stone quarries, sand mines and laying bricks.
Others were involved in agriculture, prostitution, carrying out petty businesses and doing domestic jobs like baby-sitting.
The children have been enrolled in 31 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and six non-formal vocational institutions in the north, Ongom explained.
“Over the last two years, we have withdrawn 2,504 children involved in the worst forms of child labour in Kitgum district and taken them back to primary, secondary schools and vocational training centres,†he said.
“In Pader district, 1,462 children engaged in labour were returned to school, while Gulu had 1,470 children, Lira 1,255 and 847 girls and boys in Karamoja were withdrawn from herding cattle and taken to school.â€
Ongom called on the Government and donors to address the causes of child labour such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict and domestic violence.
“In some districts like Kitgum, we created village saving associations to provide loans to the parents of children engaged in child labour. In Gulu, a child labour committee has been set to monitor workplaces, talk to employers and ensure that child protection laws are enforced,†he explained.
“Apart from returning the children to school, we pay their fees, buy them uniforms and scholastic materials.â€
Ocan expressed concern that some children were dropping out of school despite being rescued from labour. “In Gulu, about 44 of the children have dropped out of school.â€
He, however, said 93 children in the district had completed primary, secondary and vocational training.