Empower Child Domestic Workers Through Education

SCD-Darling Ltd is a company that manufactures Beauty products in Uganda specializing in Hair products. During the January to March 2012 they visited the former child domestic workers in Nile Vocational Institute. During the visit they conducted training on how to use the hair products - hair extensions and a variety of creams and shapoo. They were trained on hair dressing by the Darling hair technicians.

Peter Mukabire, sales executive of SCD-Darling Uganda said, "As a company we have done this to carry out our corporate social responsibility to help improve on the standard of living of children. We do these by taking our hair specialists to train vulnerable girls like the beneficiaries of PLA on how to use our products." This helps them to understand how to use the beauty products for better results on their future clients. In addition to the training the 48 girls were offered aprons by SCD darling. In appreciation of the support, one beneficiary, Atuhairwe Winnie, thanked PLA for the session because it's one way of showing beneficiaries that they care about them. In her remarks she said that, 'I had always heard about Darling company on radio but didn't know that I was using their products, thank you Darling company for teaching us, thank you so much my sponsors may God bless you people'. The aprons donated are worth USD 155.

We are planning to engage more companies like SCD-Darling in Uganda to support our cause. These children have completed their training at the Nile Vocational Institute. We intend to follow them up and see how the skills they have acquired better their lives.

• Child_domestic_workers__JanMarch_2012.doc (DOC)

EMPOWER CHILD DOMESTIC WORKERS THROUGH EDUCATION: Progress Report #1

This quarter has been very exciting for PLA and especially for the 99 (68 girls and 31 boys) former child domestic workers now in school. Identifying appropriate children required many weeks of door-to-door house visits, hours of interviews, several community awareness sessions and ongoing mediation.  Ultimately, in October and November 99 vulnerable child domestic workers were removed from exploitative conditions and placed at Nile Vocational Institute where they have begun a six-month course of their choice.  Popular courses are motor vehicle mechanics with 30 children, catering with 9 children and hair dressing with 38 children, Tailoring 19 children computer 2 and Plumbing 1 child.

With the funds donated PLA staff members have periodically visited the students to monitor their progress, address issues, and provide counseling.  During these visits, each child is asked about his/her experiences at school during a private counseling session.  Overwhelmingly, the responses are positive.

Testimonials

“I love school because I have so much knowledge that I otherwise would not have had.  The teachers are great.  They really care about us.”

 “When I finish school I will now be able to get a good job and help my family. I have learned to be disciplined and to be a more productive member of society.”

“I like school because I feel secure here.  I know that I will eat.”

Thank you so much PLA

Challenges

During these visits, we learned that many of the children lack basic necessities such as a change of clothing, shoes, mosquito nets, sanitary pads and soap. Many children have expressed concern that six months is not long enough to complete an entire course of study. In response to these issues, our team at PLA is working diligently to find donated clothes and inexpensive sanitary pads and mosquito nets.  Money raised through GlobalGiving will enable us to buy more of these items and will allow children a longer course of study, thereby improving the likelihood that they find decent jobs in the future.  

• PLA_Global_giving_detailed.doc (DOC)