• About
  • Our Work
  • Join
  • Partner
  • Media
EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Sign-up for monthly updates on Winrock's work around the world.

WINROCK VOICES

Committing to a child labor-free world

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Fidelis Yapel, MATE MASIE project director

I want to share an update on some of the U.S. Department of Labor-funded MATE MASIE project’s inspiring successes as we work with communities, government and other important stakeholders in Ghana to better understand the complex drivers of child labor in the cocoa industry, and to develop solutions to prevent it.

It is important for all of us, and especially the communities most directly affected, to remember that millions of young people around the world continue to be denied a childhood, an education and opportunities to pursue a better future because of child labor.

The ILO defines child labor as any work that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, as well as work that is detrimental to physical and/or mental development. Poverty is the main cause of child labor. It prevents children from receiving the education they need to end the cycle of poverty in their families and communities and help children to reach their full potential. After a couple of decades of progress reducing the number of child laborers, the ILO reports that numbers are once again on the rise.

In Ghana, we localized the theme for World Day Against Child Labor this year to: “Intensify Action Against Child Labor, Do It Now! Do it Fast!” because we recognize the urgency of raising more awareness of the problem, intensifying action and combining all available resources. The clock is ticking to meet the world’s 2025 deadline to end child labor in all its forms, one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Here’s what we on the MATE MASIE project are working on. With our partners, we’re continuing our campaign to raise awareness on child labor, sensitize the public in Ghana to the problem, and engage law enforcement in discussions on improved institutional coordination to strengthen capacity to enforce both international and national child labor policy and law. We’re holding community activities including quiz contests, durbars (meetings with traditional leaders), and radio discussions to raise awareness on child labor in target communities and districts in the Ashanti Region.

Gathering of a Community Child Protection Committee.

We believe that amplifying messaging about the problem ─ and how we all can play a role in ending it ─ will motivate increased action, including expanded reporting on child labor in affected communities.

MATE MASIE is an expression in Ghana that means “What I hear, I keep.” In our project, we’re developing new ways to share detailed information so communities and government are hearing ─ and listening to each other and finding solutions, together. We’re collaborating with local cocoa cooperatives and officials on a new Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System, which is helping to collect and disseminate data on children either engaged in or at risk of becoming involved in child labor. The system is now being used, along with a new Child Labor Risk Management tool, by the cocoa cooperatives that are partnering with our project. It’s already supporting the identification of vulnerable member households and children, and being used to deliver social protection services.

Our children will inherit our world. Let us pause, reflect, and prove our commitment to work together to cure the child labor canker, everywhere.

Funding is provided by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreement number IL-35537-20-75-K. One hundred percent of the total costs of the project are financed with USG federal funds for a total of $4,000,000 dollars. This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the United States Government.

ABOUT FARMER-TO-FARMER WINROCK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE

SUBSCRIBE TO POSTS

Loading

ARCHIVE

  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011

CATEGORIES

  • AET
  • Africa
    • Ghana
    • Senegal
  • Asia
  • Bangladesh
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Field Staff
  • Guinea
  • Kenya
  • Latin America
  • Mali
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Postharvest
  • Rural Livelihoods
  • Senegal
  • Spotlights
  • Volunteer Feedback
  • Volunteer of the Month
  • Winrock Staff
WinrockIntl
Tweets by @WinrockIntl
Follow @WinrockIntl

204 E 4th Street | North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114

ph +1 501 280 3000 | fx +1 501 280 3090

2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 | Arlington, Virginia 22202

ph +1 703 302 6500 | fx +1 703 302 6512

  • Contact
  • E-News Signup
  • Low Bandwidth
  • Code of Conduct
  • Privacy Statement & Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Anti-Trafficking
Copyright © 2015- Winrock International
DEV ENVIRONMENT