School Child Labour Clubs in Uganda

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) is currently funding (2007-2011) a child labor project, Livelihoods, Education and Protection to Eliminate Child Labor (LEAP).

The LEAP program strengthens existing school and youth clubs in five districts in northern Uganda to train them on child labor, child rights, and child protection issues, and motivate them through music, dance and drama (MDD).

I had previously observed school clubs in September 2008 with disappointing results – students were not keen or motivated, they were under pressure from their parents to go straight home from school to help with housework, they were not overtly knowledgeable of child labor issues, were not strong or active in community advocacy and sensitization, and they believed that the clubs would disband after the program funding finished.

The LEAP team have learned from these lessons and have re-invigorated the school clubs, to the point where students are keen, motivated, vocal on child rights and protection issues, and active in the community. The students strongly believe that they can “carry on the voice of LEAP” when the program finishes in two years. I was impressed with the confidence and articulation of all students, especially girls, to debate issues of child labor. When I discussed this with government officials in the District Education Office (DEO) in Kitgum Town Council, the reasons for the success of the school clubs were noted as follows:

(1) a teacher is attached to the clubs as a role model, motivator, and to provide direction;

(2) there is constant communication with parents on the activities of the clubs, so that parents know what their children are doing;

(3) the activities and membership of the clubs are an expected part of the school core curriculum;

(4) the clubs build upon the interests of the students; and

(5) the activities are well planned; and

(6) the child labour clubs are supported by the DEO.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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