Give child labourers an education in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, around 3.2 million children under the age of 14 are forced into domestic and hazardous labour. In 2005, the Bangladeshi government made work by children under 14 illegal, however, the number of child labourers continues to rise. Often families living in extreme poverty feel they have no choice but to send their children to work.The COVID-19 pandemic and repeated flooding in Bangladesh in 2022 have further exacerbated this problem, along with an increase in child marriage.

There is a growing demand for our programmes as stakeholders become increasingly aware of the illegality and immorality of child labour, that education is every child’s right, and that programmes such as Doorstep Learning change lives, offering routes out of poverty for working children and their families. Domestic work presents many dangers for working children from the physical work they do or the potential for physical or sexual violence and abuse from the employers, another reason this work is UKBET’s priority. 

Prior to piloting Doorstep Learning in 2018, our research showed child domestic workers to be one of the most difficult groups to identify, engage and support. As far as we could discover there was a complete gap in state or NGO interventions on behalf of these children. Having consulted with the International Domestic Workers Federation, we piloted Doorstep Learning and have measured the progress of the programme over 4 years. We can now demonstrate that Doorstep Learning is making a significant difference and impact. To date, we have engaged and supported 1,193 working children and their families (7,158 family members). In 2022, 54% of girls in the programme progressed out of child labour. We are convinced it is a  model ready to be replicated nationally with the potential to contribute to ending child labour in Bangladesh. 

At this moment, our 18 community teachers are working with 248 children (90% girls) and their families.

"Uneducated and almost married off at 14, my life was destined for hardship. Thanks to UKBET's community teacher Jhorna ( Not real name) madam who taught me reading, writing and who rescued me and enrolled me in the sewing training, I now run a successful clothing business. UKBET changed my life, and I will always be grateful." 
- Lola ( Not real name),  beneficiary of UKBET Doorstep Learning Programme

Case Study :

The pandemic of Coronavirus comes and goes again. However, Parul( Not real name) cannot return to her school.

Due to extreme poverty, her family sends her to work in people's homes instead of going to school. In the meantime, UKBET’s community teacher Bushra( Not real name) finds Parul ( Not real name)and enrols her in the doorstep learning project. Parul( Not real name) gets another chance to study. To increase the family's income, Parul's( Not real name) mother starts raising ducks at home with the financial support of UKBET. Parul( Not real name) dreams of returning to school and advancing far ahead, while her mother dreams of expanding the duck farm's income so that all her children can go to school.

We will stand beside Parul( Not real name) and her mother to fulfil their dreams. Will you stand with us?

Links:

• Parul's (Not real name) dream and her mother's duck farm