Today is Universal Children’s Day – an entire day to commemorate the beauty of youth! Toys, sweets and bright colors are what most of us think about when we think about children. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for approximately 211
million children around the world. For them, their days start with thoughts of work: how many packs of tissues can they sell or how many shoes will get shined. How they would prefer if their only worry were math homework.
Know the facts
Child labor is a particular problem in Turkey. Eighteen out of every 100 person in the labor force, in Turkey, is a child aged under 14. They are involved in the agricultural production of cotton, tobacco, hazelnuts and sugar beets. They provide services in the city center, such as working as street vendors and shoe shiners.
Although education is free and compulsory in Turkey, TurkStat calculates that at least six percent of children between the ages of 6 and 17 are working. More than 15 percent of children in this age group do not attend school. In rural communities, students spend hours commuting to and from school. In some families, girls are less likely to enroll than boys as it decreases their chance of marriage. Some 500,000 girls in Turkey do not attend classes.
Act Now
Turkey is working to eradicate child labor, but the process is moving at glacial speed. No single factor can fully explain child labor’s persistence and there is no simple, quick fix, nor a universal blueprint for action. But, it’s globally established that education is a crucial component of any effective effort to eliminate child labor. TPF agrees. TPF works with NGOs on the ground that support youth and provide greater access to education for all. TPF supports organizations that give scholarships to young girls, improves the quality of education in schools and supports organizations that provide vocational trainings. At TPF, we believe ZERO students should be denied an education & forced to join the labor force. If you do too, join us:
1. Share this article with your friends to educate others about the issue
2. Join us in supporting education in Turkey and in turn help stop child labor by donating.
3. With a simple click, Start – a – campaign on TPF site and raise funds from your friends, family and colleagues to support the cause.