Task forces on child labor converge

Various task forces from areas with high prevalence of child labor met in June in a unique assembly meant to inspire people to continue upholding child labor education as a priority issue.

Dubbed as Child Labor Education Task Force (CLETF) First General Assembly, the three-day event held in June in Cebu City included more than 40 representatives including parents, school officials, and local leaders. Among the attendees is Concepcion, Iloilo Mayor Elizabeth Salcedo.

The event was organized by non-government organization Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation Inc., in support of ABK2 Initiative’s advocacy of combating child labor through education. The event meanwhile was funded mainly by European groups Les Amis des Enfants du Monde (AEM), ERDA Belgique and ERDA Centre Europe.

ABK2 is a project funded by the United States Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement number IL-16570-07-75-K, which aims to contribute to the sustainable reduction of exploitive child labor in the Philippines. It is implemented by World Vision Development Foundation, ChildFund International (formerly known as Christian Children’s Fund), and ERDA.

The CLETF general assembly aimed to bring together task forces from around the country to share about accomplishments, challenges, and innovative approaches in child labor education. Participants were also updated on the national child labor situation and reviewed relevant laws protecting children. The concrete outputs of the assembly were action plans on sustaining the past CLETFs and organizing and strengthening the new CLETFs.

According to ERDA Project Manager Florence Pasos, “It was an opportunity for the transfer of knowledge and technology among the stakeholders. Besides that, a bigger solidarity group has been created. Present CLETFs realized there are others who can help them organize and give inputs. The past CLETFs proved it is possible. Their views were widened, putting child labor education in a bigger perspective; they were convinced that concrete actions and strong resolutions can be forged in the areas because they realized child labor is not for them to combat alone.”

CLETFs are composed of representatives from schools, local government, and other community stakeholders, including child leaders who are members of barangay children’s associations (BCA). They plan, monitor, and implement activities related to child labor education, conduct local policy advocacy on education, and network and build alliances to pool resources. Their efforts contribute to the attainment of the goal of the Philippine Time-Bound Program (PTBP) for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, which aims to reduce by 75 percent the incidence of the worst forms of child labor by 2015. The formation and strengthening of CLETFs is one of the best practices of ABK2’s predecessor, ABK Initiative.

The participant CLETFs are from areas where ERDA operated in ABK Initiative and are now helping in ABK2. ERDA Executive Dolora Cardeño takes pride in the CLETFs’ accomplishments, especially because most of them are now mainstreamed in the government, recognized and are sitting in meetings of local structures such as the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children. This ensures that child labor education is among the policies prioritized by local officials. “Initially, people were worried how they would continue the program without funding, especially that ABK Initiative was phasing out of their areas. But they soon found out and proved that not everything boils down to money . . . because of their commitment to the children, they were able to surpass hurdles.”

ABK2 Project Director Daphne Culanag commended ERDA for this initiative, which also served as a capacity-building activity for the task forces. “It was a good opportunity for CLETFs from the first phase to meet and share their experiences in their communities with others from the current ABK2. The elder task forces were able to share their best practices, which further inspired and deepened the commitment of the newly formed CLETFs.” Culanag shared on the salient points of the Education for All movement and Republic Act 9231 (An act providing for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working child) in the assembly.

For details, call 0917-8619466 or e-mail pima_arizala@wvi.org.