After the civil crisis in Liberia, which lasted for 14 years, the
issue of child labor has become a very difficult challenge. Many
children are used as bread winners for their family, often engaging in
selling goods on the street and child prostitution.
For the Day of African Child in 2011–with the theme “All together for urgent action in favor of street children”–the Liberian National Children’s Representative Forum conducted a survey on street children. At the end of the survey, we realized that child labor causes psychological trauma, school dropout, and early pregnancy. This issue is destroying the lives of many children. Child labor should therefore draw the attention of us as children and youth activists. Global issues are our concern and we must address them.
Victoria, a staff member from Plan Liberia, speaks about Plan’s campaigns for water and sanitation in communities in her home country.
Attending the YUGA Camp 2012–a youth leadership camp organized by Plan International USA–was a golden opportunity for me to experience what I have never experienced before. After the camp, I am excited to advocate for less-fortunate children and youth in my country. It has also given me the courage to ask: why does child labor continue? I have concluded that children are involved in labor because of poverty and because of the inadequate awareness on the danger of child labor. I also realized that the key actors in child labor are parents and caretakers.
I feel that the way forward is to create massive awareness of child labor and to contribute to the poverty reduction strategy (PRS). This will have an immense impact the lives of millions of children and their parents.
For the Day of African Child in 2011–with the theme “All together for urgent action in favor of street children”–the Liberian National Children’s Representative Forum conducted a survey on street children. At the end of the survey, we realized that child labor causes psychological trauma, school dropout, and early pregnancy. This issue is destroying the lives of many children. Child labor should therefore draw the attention of us as children and youth activists. Global issues are our concern and we must address them.
Victoria, a staff member from Plan Liberia, speaks about Plan’s campaigns for water and sanitation in communities in her home country.
Attending the YUGA Camp 2012–a youth leadership camp organized by Plan International USA–was a golden opportunity for me to experience what I have never experienced before. After the camp, I am excited to advocate for less-fortunate children and youth in my country. It has also given me the courage to ask: why does child labor continue? I have concluded that children are involved in labor because of poverty and because of the inadequate awareness on the danger of child labor. I also realized that the key actors in child labor are parents and caretakers.
I feel that the way forward is to create massive awareness of child labor and to contribute to the poverty reduction strategy (PRS). This will have an immense impact the lives of millions of children and their parents.
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