World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated every year on 12 June. Today, throughout the world, 218 million children still work and 60-100 million children of them work in India. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care.
Last May, KidsRights ambassadors Erik de Vogel and Caroline De Bruin travelled to India to visit the former child labour project BBA (Bachpan Bachao Andolan). BBA is an important partner of KidsRights who in 30 years has rescued more than 79.000 children from child slavery. Where the children work varies from mines and quarries to the household and agriculture. However, they all have in common that they work in appalling conditions of exploitation and child abuse. And above all, they cannot go to school. BBA rescues these children and gives them the first crucial accommodation and support in a shelter, where they get medical and psychological help. The children can go to school and learn to be children again.
One of the children who were rescued, is Devli. Erik and Caroline visited BBA in 2008 as well, where they met Devli, who was just rescued from the quarry. Now, three years later, they meet Devli again. She is doing very well. She lives with her parents and goes to school every day. During the visit, Caroline had the opportunity to speak with Devli again. Erik and Caroline also met the children who were rescued recently from the child slavery. They talked with the children about their experiences in child labour and about their plans for the future. A future in freedom, which they can plan themselves, after finish school.
Would you like to support this former child slave project? please click here.
On June 9, Erik de Vogel and Caroline De Bruin told about their travel to India on RTL Boulevard. If you want to see the item, click on the following link: : Erik and Caroline on RTL Boulevard
