BY SHARON SIBINDI
Luzibolwedu Development Trust in partnership with Shangano Arts Trust, Stand Tall and Chaminuka Arts have embarked on a campaign meant to eliminate child labour.
The campaign is run through poetry, songs and drama, among other forms of arts with the aim of raising awareness on child labour issues and children’s rights.
“We have collaborated as a community-based organisation dealing with children and young people as well as some lecturers from the University of Zimbabwe and Lupane State University,” said Luzibolwendu Trust founder and CEO, Beauty Ndlovu.
The world observes the Day Against Child Labour on June 12.
“Under the Act, Inspire, Scale-up message and this year there would be a week of action, running from June 10- 17. We have pledged to take action to end child labour as an alliance,” Ndlovu said.
“This action will not only be this week, but will run through the year and we will link that to other international and national observances that relate to children and young people.”
She said the week of action would be marked by activities ranging from discussions, art and theatre productions that raise awareness on child labour.
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“We will use poetry, songs, drama, illustrations and other artforms to communicate child labour issues and child rights,” Ndlovu said.
“We are saying that the children have dreams. Let us allow them to dream and realise those dreams. Let us not expose them to harmful practices.
“We started the drive already talking about what child work is and what child labour is so that its clear to people what we are condemning.
“Luzibolwedu invited Shangano Arts Trust (Hwange), Stand Tall (Nyanga) and Chaminuka Arts (Chitungwiza) which already work with children and young people to amplify voices of young people who have dreams and want to continue to dream and not be forced into labour.
“Most of the activities will be virtual and a lot of advocacy and awareness will be done on our websites and social media platforms.
“Not all work done by children is child labour. Children can help around the home, doing gardening, washing , cooking and other household chores.”
She added that they can assist in a family business or earn pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays.
“Such kind of activities contribute to children’s development. They provide the children with skills and experience which prepare them to be productive members of society in their adult life,” Ndlovu said.
“However, there are particular forms of work undertaken by children that can be catergorised as child labour. This depends on the child’s age, the type of work, the number of hours of work performed and the conditions under which the work is performed.
“The work falling under child labour involves those kind of activities that are harmful to the physical and mental development of the children.
“The work is also usually socially and morally dangerous and harmful to the children and often interferes with their schooling.
“Therefore, all such work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity falls under child labour and must be abolished.”
