Introduction
The two stories here describe mothers who have taken active roles in anti-child-labour project work in their communities supported by the Ugandan NGO CEFORD (1). The first story is written by Okaya John Bosco, Team leader of Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) and the second story is compiled by Masika Jennipher (CLLO).
“Mama child rights defender”: Florence Olul’s story
Florence Olul is a 52-year-old mother who has become a child rights defender in her community. She lives in Jupazuba village, Erussi subcounty, Nebbi district, northwest Uganda.
Several years ago, the Ugandan NGO CEFORD, supported by the international NGO Hivos, implemented a project in the area to fight child labour in coffee farming. This involved the formation of the Jupazuba child labour committee and a savings and loan group that purchased a small parcel of land (about 50 metres by 40 metres) registered under a certificate of customary ownership.
Florence, as a member of the group, received a share of the land ownership. With the other committee members she received training from the project on income-generating activities and on child protection and counselling. The income generation was partly to help support child-headed households without parents where some older children had to work to support their younger siblings.
The experience changed Florence’s life. She started to cultivate crops such as cassava and has become more proficient in generating income. In addition, thanks to this and the child rights training she received, Florence can now support vulnerable children who are heads of their households. She provides such children with school materials and food. The training has made her more self-sufficient and empowered her to make a positive impact on these children’s lives.
As part of the project, committee and group members including Florence made action plans, and project community workers supported them in implementing these plans. Members’ assistance for children who have to work to support their younger siblings, and for those other children whose parents or guardians have forced them into work, has helped such children withdraw from child labour and attend school. Florence and her fellow committee members provide counselling and guidance to parents and guardians to take up their responsibilities. The group has also created a children’s foundation fund to further support their work.
CEFORD’s community sensitising and training on child labour and child protection have made Florence very committed to helping children trapped in labour. The whole subcounty in Erussi knows about her. And Florence and her fellows’ commitment and activism have achieved real success. Child labour has reduced drastically in the village, the parish and the subcounty. Group and committee members have shown great leadership in discouraging laziness and promoting regular school attendance across the community.
Currently, Florence supports more than 20 children who have left child labour and integrated back into school. She has also successfully guided 73 child abuse cases, which all concluded well. For these achievements, many people in the community call Florence “Mama child rights defender”.
Mobilising against child labour: Mbambu Pesikezia’s story
“My name is Mbambu Pesikezia and I am 41 years old. I am married to Muhindo Joseph, and we have seven children – three boys and four girls – all of whom are currently attending school. We live in Kaghorwe II, Kaghorwe parish, Nyakiyumbu subcounty. I am proud to be a member of the Kaghorwe II child labour committee (CLC), where I serve as a mobiliser.
“I was enrolled in this group on 1 June 2021 by the chairperson of Local Council 1 with CEFORD and Rainforest Alliance support. Before my involvement with CEFORD, I was a village health team member, which helped me establish a connection with CEFORD. I was then mobilised by the local council chairperson and attended a training at our local coffee washing centre.
“After completing the training, my committee of nine people and I began sensitising the community on the negative impacts of child labour and how we, as members of the child labour committee, were selected by CEFORD to help address this issue. We visited worship centres to educate both parents and children on the importance of sending children to school instead of making them work.
“Through my involvement in the committee, I have become known in my community as a CLC member of CEFORD. I have earned the respect of community elders, children and other leaders, and have even been asked to represent CEFORD on occasion. Since joining CEFORD, my children are always in school during school hours and do less work after classes.
“I am grateful to CEFORD and the Rainforest Alliance for their support, which has helped to significantly reduce child labour in Kaghorwe II village.”
