Summer events aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of child labor were held in four target governorates in Yemen this summer as a part of the awareness raising component of CHF’s ACCESS-Plus program. Enthusiastic families in Hajja, Hodeidah, Taiz and Aden came out in impressive numbers. ACCESS-Plus, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and implemented by CHF International and the Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW), is working to withdraw 4,100 children from the worst forms of child labor and aims to prevent 3,000 from entering exploitive labor.

As the events took place during the month of Ramadan, they were held at night, after the breaking of the fast, which only added to the festive atmosphere. In Aden the hall was filled to capacity in anticipation of speeches by representatives of local authorities, CHF and CSSW. The importance of education as an alternative to child labor was a common theme. Mr. Jarmal al-Aa’qil, deputy Governor of Hajja, stated “I am here tonight taking part in this festival to express the support of the governor and the Local Authority of Hajjah to the mission of the ACCESS-Plus program. I am confident that ACCESS-Plus will contribute to the overall effort to fight child labor and child trafficking.”

The highlight of the event, however, was a short play that followed the speeches. Three gifted actors conveyed a strong anti-child labor message with the help of a table, two chairs and a Michael Jackson wig. In the play, a father is inspired to educate his children after a bad dream in which his son dies after being forced to work as a fisherman. This moving story was adapted to each governorate: While Aden and Hodeidah focused on children working in fish farming, the Hajjah story involved child trafficking and in Taiz the child worked in agriculture. These adaptations increased the relevance to each community and tugged at viewers’ heartstrings.

Darweesh, a former child smuggler from Haradh, Hajjah, was particularly inspired: “Thank God I’m no longer a smuggler, I will enroll in the ACCESS-Plus literacy and vocational training program. I want to be a decent person and contribute to my society.”

Pictures:

• Hajja_2009_summer_event.jpg (JPG)