Background
The carpet and Varanasi sari industries are spread across vast stretches of urban and rural areas of Varanasi and its surrounding districts, employing a very big majority of child labour. Through its fund, GoodWeave reached the children of the “Last Mile” in the rural and urban areas of the oldest living city of the world and brought welfare-oriented initiatives that support them and establish preventive measures to restrict the movement of children at risk to the carpet-making looms. HWA utilises GoodWeave’s grant for good causes like sanitation and hygiene practices, awareness and sensitization, and capacity building of staff, community volunteers, school-going children, and youth — especially young girls.
Goals and Expectations
- Generate awareness about child labour and child-rights issues, and basic education as a fundamental right, among employers of children, parents, child labourers, community leaders, school-going children, opinion leaders, and social activists.
- Support educational centres and materials in the poorest selected project schools at Mirzamurad, Dudhawa, and Chowki (Kapsethi).
- Form Child Right Forums in the project area schools in a structured manner for their rights and voice.
- Provide training on quality education, joyful learning, and child rights to teachers in selected schools.
- Involve all stakeholders in the process of development.
Major Activities
Baseline survey covering 10 villages found a very big majority of child labour employed in the carpet weaving sector, labouring for 10 to 14 hours a day, causing several diseases and malnutrition.
Enrolment campaigns, door-to-door sensitization, CSG meetings, awareness rallies, and wall writing are regular activities — children hold written slogans on child rights, human trafficking, and the right to education.
Formation of Child Right Forums at every NFE centre for leadership skill improvement and best use of child resources.
Challenges
Working with Muslim and Dalit communities overlooked by government welfare schemes was itself a great challenge, as was motivating families who believed Dini Talim (Urdu, Arabic, and religious books) more significant than Duniavi Talim (Hindi, English, Maths, Science). Through rapport building and the hard work of volunteers and staff, GoodWeave and HWA gained the support and trust of the community.
Achievements
Now the non-school-going children and potential child labourers are getting education through the project education centres. Total numbers of children studying in these centres are 232 (96 girls and 136 boys), and 23 children enrolled in other schools through enrolment campaigns.
Community Contribution
At Dudhawa and Mirzamurad the community gave free-of-cost places to run the NFE centres; at Chowki (Kapsethi) the community gave a rent-free place and also managed a piece of land to construct an NFE centre.