As a result of the big numbers of child
labour in Uganda that have hindered education, especially of the
girl child (Uganda Bureau of statistics 2002), FAWE Uganda in
partnership with ILO/IPEC implemented a project to eliminate the
worst forms of child labour in the districts of Mpigi, Kiboga, Nebbi
and Kisoro. The beneficiaries were children involved in child labour,
parents/guardians, community leaders and local authority leaders
from the communities where the project was being implemented.
In an attempt to address the problem,
awareness was created on the worst forms of child labour, causes of
child labour, exploitative conditions of child labour and together
with participants suggested possible ways on how the worst forms can
be reduced.
The strategy to eliminate the worst
forms of child labour, with a focus on girls, aimed at freeing
disadvantaged children from work to enable them benefit from
education and training. This is in line with the FAWEU’s mission of
ensuring that girls and women are an integral part of the national
intellectual and technical resource base of Uganda.
The program was successfully completed
at the end of the two-year period of implementation. The pupils had
started on community visits to identify fellow children out of
school and to talk to them about the advantages of education. Drama
and songs were also presented to the communities as a way of
disseminating the message at different community foras.
