Radios to Educate Child Laborers in Tanzania

Summary

Freeplay Lifeline radios support a distance education program in literacy, math, and life skills to help young children in Tanzania escape poverty and avoid the worst forms of child labor

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

More than 5 million school-age children have no access to primary education. An estimated 4.7 million are involved in economic activity and 300,000 children are engaged in the worst forms of child labor. Children become miners, domestic servants, farm workers, and sex workers, often under abusive and exploitive conditions. Thousands of children fall prey to child trafficking. Providing access to high quality, relevant education can both relieve poverty and eliminate child labor

How will this project solve this problem?

Self-powered Lifeline radios are distributed & mentors trained in their use. Children at risk in remote informal schools and community centers gain sustained access to the Educational Development Center's "Mambo Elimu" distance learning radio program

Potential Long Term Impact

Improved education and information can lead to future income security, which brings improved health and family stability. Children are empowered to resist high-risk, exploitative employment. Child labor will be reduced.

Project Message

I did not think I could to go school to learn before radio with Mambo Elimu. I thought I would only do farm work. But now I want to continue to secondary school.
- Shira, 13-year-old, student at Mambo Elimu center in Iramba

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources