Spring 2011 Emily Grantees Announced – International Initiative to End Child Labor

The Emily Sandall Foundation and the International Initiative to End Child Labor’s (IIECL) Board of Directors and staff are pleased to announce the Spring 2011 grantees selected to receive Emily Grants. There was a tremendous response from community-based organizations and individuals from around the world; the largest number of applications received since the start of the mini-grant program in 2004. A total of ten (10) projects have been selected that reach all corners of the globe, including North and South America (USA and Peru); East and West Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana); Asia / Near East (Vietnam and India); and Eastern Europe (Moldova).

The Spring 2011 grantees are:

1. Aryn Calhoun – USA
2. Hequeendo Compassionate Friends Community – Kenya
3. Social Enterprise Africa CIC – Uganda
4. Research and Communication Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) – Vietnam
5. Cătălina Iucal and Mathew Rellaford – Moldova
6. Asociación Mujer Famili – Peru
7. Society for Community Development Project (SCDP) – India
8. Coalition for Educational Development – Sri Lanka
9. Christian Youth Network – Tanzania
10. Lamp for Future Life (LEFL) – Ghana

Emily grants are awarded in honor of the first recipient of IIECL’s youth mini-grant program, Emily Sandall. The projects that are funded exemplify the positive action that Emily demonstrated during her all too brief life. The Emily Sandall Foundation and IIECL work in partnership to ensure that Emily’s legacy of service to mankind continues, particularly for disadvantaged children caught in exploitative child labor. Emily’s impressions provide a brief glimpse of how Emily would have viewed the development projects that are being funded.

“With so many worthwhile projects, the selection of grantees was extremely difficult due to the number of excellent projects proposed and the tremendous need demonstrated,” commented IIECL’s Executive Director, Diane Mull. “With the celebration of the 12^th Annual World Day Against Child Labor, the Emily Sandall Foundation and IIECL wanted to support the efforts of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) worldwide coordinated efforts to end child labor in our own small, grassroots way.”

There are numerous other applicants whose projects are very worthwhile and will be given consideration as additional funds become available. Those organizations that submitted proposals in the spring round will be given additional consideration in the fall 2011 round. These organizations do not need to resubmit their proposals in the fall.

Follows is a description of the projects that are being funded to work toward ending child labor through varying approaches using education, awareness raising, economic development, and community mobilization. Emily impressions are provided that give insights into how Emily would have viewed these projects toward addressing the needs of children. The Emily grantees are grouped by region:

North and South America

USA – Aryn Calhoun: “Hazardous Work Music Video”

Aryn is a professional musician—an independent musician who is a songwriter, performer, demo producer and teacher. Through her gift of music and ability to craft songs, she brings light to ideas and reaches people in a unique and dynamic way. The songs she has written and produced into music videos include “The Harvest” and “Childhood Left Behind”, two music videos featured on IIECL’s website. Music is a unique way to help rally people around an important social justice issue. When combined with a well-crafted video, it allows people to explore visually the impact of the message of what the impact of child labor can have on children’s lives—seeing the faces of the children directly affected.  Aryn’s grant is to support the production of a video to go along with her spring 2010 Emily grant where she’s written a song that focuses on the hazards of child labor to a child’s health, safety, morals and education. The video will be posted on IIECL’s newly created Facebook and YouTube accounts and featured on IIECL’s website. Aryn will also assist IIECL by establishing IIECL on Wikipedia.

Emily’s Impression: Emily would love this poignant project that Aryn has chosen—combining the power of music and photos to bring attention to this important issue.

Peru—Teen Association of Domestic Workers (Asociación Mujer Famili): “Micro-credit for Domestic Girl Workers”

The Teen Association of Domestic Workers in the City of Cajamarca, Peru is proposing to implement a project entitled, “We want change today and tomorrow!”  The Teen Association of Domestic Workers will be working under the advice and direction of the Women’s Family Association, a non-governmental organization operating in Cajamarca, Peru. Due to the current conditions of poverty and limited incomes in peri-urban households, girls and adolescents are forced to work in private households, in order to have money to access education. Often, these girls are forced to work 10 to 12 hours a day—a clear violation of Peru’s laws that state a maximum of six hours of work per day. The only time these children have to study is at night, where they are exhausted after a long day of labor. This results in their not being able to complete their homework resulting in their having to repeat grades and ultimately dropping out of school. The objective of the project is to empower child domestic workers through the provision of micro-credit to meet their educational expenses and/or assist them in alternative economic activities, such as handicrafts, toys, jewelry, hand-embroidered linen and other non-hazardous income generating activities. A total of 22 child and adolescent, 18 and under, domestic workers will be assisted.

Emily’s impression: Emily believed strongly in the idea of empowering young girls with new skills and education to improve their lives.

East and West Africa

Kenya—Hequeendo Compassionate Friends Community: “Beehive Income Generation”

The Hequeendo Friends is a community-based organization that started in 2006 in Kenya’s Western Province in the Bungoma East District. Their mission is to transform the lives of needy children, give hope to the hopeless, and support and care for the orphans/vulnerable children and people living with HIV in their community. Since its inception, Hequeendo has undertaken projects providing care and support to 115 orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). These children attend both high school and other primary school levels. Further, Hequeendo provides home-based care to 158 people living with HIV through their PLWHIV (People Living with HIV) program. Hequeendo’s Emily grant will be implementing an OVC advocacy promoting children’s rights and income generation to assist with the care and support for orphans, abandoned, street and other poor children. Hequeendo will be implementing a project of train the OVCs in beekeeping. Honey will be harvested and sold three times per year. The income generated from the beekeeping project will be used to support nutrition, medicine and costs associated with attending school. A total of 12 beehives will be purchased, two smokers, protective clothing. IIECL will provide to Hequeendo a beekeeping literacy curriculum that it can use for training with illiterate adults within the community and support education for the children and youth.

Emily’s impression: Emily would have wanted to be a part of this sustainable beekeeping project to give these children a brighter future.

Uganda—Social Enterprise Africa CIC and Chrysalis Limited: “Chickens for Change for Quarry Workers”

Social Enterprise Africa CIC is a not-for-profit, Community Interest Company (CIC), registered in Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK). It is focused on awareness-raising and proactical implementation of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship in Africa. Operating as a CIC, it allows people to setup businesses specifically for a social purpose (in a community) and trade to achieve that purpose. SEA achieves its aim through 1) agricultural development, 2) consulting with NGOs and capacity-building to support the sustainability of those organizations interested in developing social businesses or youth micro-enterprises, and 3) the implementation of specific projects that support the development of social enterprise in Africa.  SEC is closely linked with Chrysalis Limited, a school which it helped to found that works to empower gifted and talented Ugandan youth as young social entrepreneurs to become change makers. SEC partners with the Boy’s Brigade in the UK. SEA is proposing to work with children working in hazardous work in the stone quarries in Kireka within the Acholi Quarter. The Acholi Quarter is a small hill where Ugandans from the Acholi tribe (roughly 3,500 households) were encouraged to relocate during the war in Northern Uganda. While land was allocated, no other facilities—water, sanitation, housing—was provided. Nearby is Kinawataka, known as the “dust bowl” of Kampala, as the factories and lorries have decimated the vegetation leaving red dust subject to the blowing winds. Despite the end of war, there are very limited, meaningful work opportunities for the families living in the area. Many adults and children are forced to work in the stone quarries. If too injured or unable to work with stone, scavenging through garbage is another area where children can be found in labor. Prostitution is also rife in the area, as teenage girls are sometimes pressed into this work. Other inhuman activities also occur in the Quarter, such as child sacrifices by witchdoctors and the selling of children into slavery abroad. No work offers sufficient funds to pay for the costs of school for the children. To address these challenges and with the Emily grant, the SEC is proposing to setup two sustainable business ventures: 1) Chicken for Change – a chick rearing project, which will grow to include incubation, egg sales and broiler sales; and 2) Liquid Soap Production – the production and sale of soap for families, factories and the school. Training will be provided on how to be an effective young entrepreneur at the Chrysalis Center, which works with gifted and talented children from the Acholi Quarter and has some young entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs amongst its members. With the chick rearing project, SEC will be working closed with Katende Harambe, a specialist training facility for small farmers, where best practices are taught. Training will include awareness-raising of children’s rights and ‘money integrity. ’The SEA is proposing a long-term sustainable approach, growing over time, starting initially with 4 to 6 members, aged 11 to 14, participating in both businesses. To participate as an entrepreneur, this will require the youth to forego working in the quarry.

Emily’s impression: Emily would be so excited that these child laborers are given a “second chance” by learning sustainable skills and business opportunities.

Tanzania—Christian Youth Network: “Combating Hazardous Child Labor in Tobacco Farming”

The Christian Youth Network (CYN) is a faith-based, youth-led, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization formed in 2004 by young people and registered in 2008. CYN is headquartered in the Tabor Region in western Tanzania. The mission is to be a catalyst of positive change spiritually, physically and economically for youth; bring youth groups together; work with youth committed to fight against poverty, spread of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse; and promote general youth ethics irrespective of race, ethnicity, sex or age. CYN’s project will focus on children working in tobacco in the Urambo District. Children often work 12 hour days with only 30 to 60 minutes of rest, no protective equipment, clothing or worker safety training. They are exposed to toxic pesticides, carrying heavy loads, exposed to tobacco sickness from the nicotine, and repetitive motion, including bending and kneeling. Of particular risk are HIV/AIDS orphans. The average pay for these children can be as low as $12 per month. The CYN will conduct training to 50 Village Child Labor Committees, organize a public campaign and activities in observance of the World Day Against Child Labor in June 2011, provide counseling and alternative vocational skills training for youth, and referral of younger children to regular schools. CYN estimates that 300 children will be withdrawn from hazardous child labor and re-integrated into education. Further, that public awareness regarding child labor will be raised with 50,000 people in the Urambo District of Tanzania.

Emily’s impression: Emily would smile so broadly that 300 children were given the chance for education and not child labor.

Ghana—Lamp for Future Life (LEFL) “Community Radio Sensitization on Child Rights and Child Labor”

Lamp for Future Life (LEFL) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that began as a vision of a volunteer in August 2009 to advocate for the special needs of marginalized segments of the Ghanaian society, particularly disabled people, women, and children. LEFL serves the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District in the Central Region of Ghana. Their approach is to work with the targeted community enabling them to advocate for themselves and influence policies and laws that affect them. LEFL’s objective is to enhance their targeted populations’ socio-economic development, human rights, and improve their health and educational status to achieve an ability to live independent lives and productively contribute to society. LEFL’s project will conduct a district-wide sensitizing campaign using community radio to target key social issues, such as child labor and child rights, particularly for disabled children. Community radio personnel will be targeted for capacity building, developing a radio sensitizing program on child labor and child rights, and holding panel-discussions of key experiences on child labor and child rights, including disability rights, with phone in segments.

Emily’s impression: Emily would strongly support a project where the vulnerable population could advocate for themselves and “have a voice” in their own policies and laws.

Asia / Near East

Vietnam—Research and Communication Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) “Faster Project”

Research and Community Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) is a Vietnamese non-profit, non-governmental organization established in October 2010 under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association (VUSTA). The agency is based in Hanoi. The ‘Faster’ is a project initiated by CSD, Mr. Nazri Nasir (former Captain of Singapore’s National Football team in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s) and Mr. Dang Phuong Nam (former National football player of Vietnam). The project ‘s objective is to support disadvantaged children, including street children and orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs) to have the opportunity for a rich spiritual life and explore their potentials by participating in football. The project aims to: 1) design short-term courses to teach football with a world-standardized curriculum for disadvantaged children who are under the care of various charity organizations and the social center in the Hanoi area; and 2) partner with social organizations which provide aid for disadvantaged children to organize a football tournament for them. Disadvantaged children, 9 to 15 years, are targeted, in particular street children. Six classes of disadvantaged children will be provided football training and football matches. Each class will have 12 sessions, covering the three months of summer. This will result in 90-100 children being taught skills such as physical training, solidarity, teamwork skills and courage building—all leading to the development of healthy physical and psycho-social development. The curriculum is comprised of five versions for five age groups, under 8, 8-10 years, 10-12 years, 12-14 year, and 15-16 years. Other extracurricular activities to build social interaction and communication skills will also be provided. The Emily grant will be a part of a collaboration of agencies supporting the Faster Project. The Emily grant will be used to support the cost of training clothing, shirt and shorts, for the 90 disadvantaged children.

Emily’s impression: Emily strongly believed that sports participation promotes self-esteem and a brighter future for children.

India—Society for Community Development Project (SCDP) “Puppetry Shows and Bicycle Rally”

The Society for Community Development Project (SCDP) has been serving the Salem, Tamilnadu, India area for the past 15 years.  It is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. It is targeting services using its Emily grant to five villages, including Chinnagoundapuram, Ramalingapuram, Udayapatty, Sastri nagar and Athikaripatty village of Ayothiyapatinam block of Salem district, to end child labor. The project will involve former child laborers, who are trained in puppetry and awareness-raising techniques, to educate communities, parents, current child laborers, and local leaders in the five villages about the impact that child labor has on children and their education, legal provisions on child labor, and the need for change. SCDP will build upon its recent successful project using art as a means of creative action to influence social change. SCDP will use the bicycle rally as the means of transportation between communities and to draw attention to their puppetry shows and street corner meetings.

Emily’s impression: Emily would love the active and creative ideas involving former child laborers for this project. She had always hoped to work in India.

Sri Lanka—Coalition for Educational Development “’No children for sale here!’ Campaign in the Tea Plantations”

Founded in 2004, the Coalition for Educational Development (CED) is a non-profit organization funded by the Commonwealth Education Fund and established for the promotion of education in the commonwealth countries in Asia and Africa. The CED enshrines the idea that linkages among policy makers, researchers and civil society groups are essential to formulate steadfast and viable educational policies with wide application and insightful decisions. Advocacy is the main mechanism employed by the Coalition to effect change and reform through informed and evidenced based decision making. It seeks the cooperation of civil society and other stakeholders to act as advocates and informed critics that present a coherent and unified voice. The CED is working in partnership with 51 provincial level organizations. There is a long history of family labor in the plantation sector, with little regard for the human rights and dignity of children and an educational system lagging far behind the national norm. Less than one percent of students who enter the universities are from the plantation worker families. Girls are especially vulnerable as they are often groomed for domestic service outside their home and plantation community. ‘Child brokers’, also known as ‘employment brokers,’ have a strong base in the plantations. Plantation children, especially girls who are sent for domestic work, are ‘virtually sold’ as many of them do not come back home. CED will use its Emily grant to support its work to contribute to the elimination of child labor in the central parts of Sri Lanka, especially focusing on the tea plantation sector.  CED, working through its coalition members’ children’s clubs, will conduct child rights awareness workshops with selected members from the children’s clubs, print leaflets and banners, and publish news items, feature stories and articles to create public opinion against child labor. Expected outcomes include empowering children club members to influence community against child labor and raise awareness about their rights; full-time employment of children is rejected by the community and part-time work regulated in a socially-acceptable way; curtail/restrict the free movement of child brokers; and child protection committees are established in selected plantations.

Emily’s impression: Emily would love the idea of working towards a better future for these children.

Eastern Europe

Moldova—Cătălina Iucal and Mathew Rellaford “One-week Camp ’For the sake of childhood’ Preventing Child Labor through Recreation in June 2011”

Cătălina Iucal is the project coordinator of Ester House (a day care center for children), and Mathew Rellaford is a Fulbright Fellow with a BYU degree in Recreation Therapy currently serving in Moldova. Ester House was established in June 2009 to provide social and educational assistance. The program makes constant evaluation of the progress of the children served. It is financially supported by two humanitarian organizations in Moldova that cover the children’s physical needs (food and clothing) and the costs for running the center. The center regularly serves 50 children, but many are regularly absent during the summer and autumn months due to their work in agriculture.  This results in these children missing the special summertime program that consists of interesting interactive activities. Based on assessments of the children, similar symptoms are exhibited, including poor or inappropriate use of free time; isolate themselves; poor self-image; lack of interest in hobbies, leisure or social activities; and inability to participate in education or complete tasks. Focused during the week of World Day against Child Labor, June 12^th-18^th, 2011, Cătălina Iucal and Mathew Rellaford will oversee the implementation of a week-long camp that will provide educational assistance to children; psychological support and social assistance for those experiencing trauma; and opportunities for children to experience success, control, creativity, and self-expression. Recreation therapy, a ‘hands-on’ technique that uses recreation and active play activities to help children learn to communicate openly, work together in teams, develop social skills, and learn the importance of taking time away from work to participate in meaningful recreation. Activities will be used to help children develop their talents, communicate about obstacles in their lives (particularly concerning child labor), develop their leadership skills, and create social bonds with peers. Ester House center staff will be trained on how to effectively apply these methods so that children are afforded intensive, small group hands-on support by facilitators. Activities will include sports, arts, crafts, drama, and participation in nature, music, etc. Fifty children will be targeted to participate in the camp. The Emily grant will be used to support the costs associated with the children’s participation. Other partnering agencies include: PROPLUS, ORA international Moldova, and Love and Care for Moldova.

Emily’s impression: Emily would have loved to be a part of this very active and positive project to help these children towards a more hopeful future.