New Zealand
Child labour
Paper delivery, milk delivery and retail assistance - jobs commonly done by young people in New Zealand. Earning a bit of spare cash always comes in handy and the responsibility of being in paid employment is often considered to be positive for a child’s development.
There are however many children like Gio in the Philippines who are expected to work long hours to help support their families. Working 12 or more hours a day, it is easy to understand how a child misses out on an education – education that is vital to the wellbeing and development of all children and the chance of a better future.
Save the Children believes all children have the right to an education. In order that Gio and his brothers and sister could go to school, Save the Children provided Gio with financial assistance. This means that Gio no longer has to work 12 hours a day. Although he does still work, his hours have reduced to 6 hours a day. Gio can now attend school and enhance his chances of a brighter future.
This assistance is just part of Save the Children’s work. Because so many children in the Philippines (and around the world) have to work to support their families, they are vulnerable to exploitation – dangerous work, low wages and long hours.
Gio and many other children like him are involved in our programmes that educate other child workers about their rights and how they can achieve better working conditions. Gio shares this knowledge through his role as a facilitator. As children learn about their rights, they are able to represent themselves as a collective group capable of improving their own lives and the lives of their families.
By protecting children from exploitation through participatory and educational programmes, Save the Children is helping to break the cycle of poverty.
$60 enables a child to attend school in the Philippines for 2 months.
You can help change a child's life
Call 0800 167 168 or use our secure online donation facility to make your donation now.