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Background
Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, placing
pressure on land and other resources. The flat floodplains which make up much
of Bangladesh are prone to frequent flooding. Many families in Bangladesh live
in extreme poverty. Even the low income their children earn helps the family
survive. Children work in factories and in domestic service, roll cigarettes,
shine shoes, and collect recyclable materials from rubbish. They work long hours
which often means they are unable to attend school.
Child Access to Rights through Development (CARD)
The Child Access to Rights through Development (CARD) is sponsored by Save
the Children Australia, with support from the Australian Government, and implemented
by a range of local organisations. It aims to improve the quality of life for
rural and working children in the Tangail District, 100 kilometre north-west
of Dhaka, on Jamuna River. The four aims of the project are to:
- provide rural and working children with access to education, health facilities
and other services
- develop children's self confidence, self esteem and their skills in communicating
and negotiating as a means of gaining their rights
- provide recreational opportunities for working children
- improve the working conditions and access to services for children by lobbying
government, and focusing on developing guidelines for minimum wage levels,
leave and medical facilities for working children.
The project works to develop strong links within the communities by involving
community leaders, parents and employers in project activities.
Education for working children
The Government is the main provider of primary education in Bangladesh. School
attendance is compulsory and free, but working children frequently miss school
or leave after five years. There are large classes, few resources and teachers
have limited training.
The CARD projects provide rural and working children with access
to education
To address the difficulties experienced by working children, the project provides
classes for these children in the evenings. It assists parents to register the
births of children so that they are eligible to enrol in school, and supports
them to enable their children to remain at school.
Health
Community resource people, primary school teachers and health workers are trained
to support and deliver training on the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
child psychology and development, adolescent health, education, nutrition and
positive thinking for mothers and children.
Drop-in centres
The project set up drop-in centres for working children to meet, relax, learn
and seek advice from the staff. Children learn to read and write and are able
to borrow books from small libraries. Children also learn life skills such as
gardening and sewing. Children have a say in the programs offered. At the Madhupur
centre, girls suggested that karate classes be offered to provide them with
protection in the streets, as well as help them to keep fit. The staff asked
for assistance and a community member volunteered their time to teach the girls
karate.
Drop-in centres provide training for children in various skills,
including gardening
Shishu Parishads (Children's Councils)
Shishu Parishads have been formed to help children develop skills
so they can be involved in discussions about issues which affect them in their
families and community. All children, between the ages of 6 and 15 years, rich
or poor, students or workers, able-bodied or with disabilities, are entitled
to be members. Over 50% of the Parishads are comprised of girls. Shishu Parishads
elect their own management committee using the process similar to the national
electoral process.
Shishu Parishads organise sports, cultural activities and other events, and
provide a collective voice for children. Some are publishing their own magazine
with training by local journalists.
Children increase in confidence through
activities such as public speaking
Child Rights
Shishu Parishads and community organisations focus on children's
access to their rights, especially during Child Rights Week. They organise and
participate in various discussions, sports and cultural events. They also invite
influential people to events and activities to gain support for program activities,
and raise awareness about issues that benefit children.
The increased awareness and commitment to change can be seen through the decrease
in exploitation of working children. As one of the working children said, "If
people try to exploit us, then we can seek help from others in the community
who now understand the reality of our situation and will support us; when a
child is hit by an employer then we can gather other children and approach the
employer - children united, and acting together, can make a difference."
In Madhupur, the Central Working Children's (CWC) Council elected members meet
with the local government officials monthly to raise and resolve issues affecting
working children. At one of the meetings two girls, who earned less than 10
cents (Australian) for the several hours work needed to make 1000 cigarettes,
presented their situation. The local government official saw this as a case
of clear exploitation. Unfortunately, the government could not take legal action
as it did not have any minimum wage levels for cigarette makers. However, the
official agreed that he and other government representatives could work to motivate
employers to change their attitudes with regard to the girls' salaries and working
conditions.
At another meeting, one of the girl representatives requested that the local
government official assist her in the purchase a sewing machine for the Central
Children's Working Council, which could be used to train the girls in basic
sewing techniques. He agreed, and explained that classes could be provided through
the social services office, and linked the children into services available
in the community.
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