International Labour Organization (ILO)

Non-formal Education and Elementary Skill Development for Urban Working Children

Proposed Duration: April 2001- September 2002

Objectives:

• To improve working and living conditions of working children in hazardous occupations in Orangi and Landhi/Korangi through the provision of non-formal education, skill development and health services.

• To sensitize workers communities on the subject of child labour and develop active network among PNFTU members in the country to support these efforts.

Activities:

• Select appropriate trades and procure equipment for training children in these trades and hire instructors for providing vocational training to working children;

• Establish and run non-formal education centres, enroll children withdrawn from hazardous work, procure teaching material and books, prepare annual work plan and procedures for examination and certification, develop linkages with formal schooling system, maintain profile and performance record of children;

• Register the target group children and their families with the existing clinic facility in the community, develop health and nutrition profile of each child, provide necessary medical services and nutrition at external facility, collect information on the health hazard of children working in hazardous occupations and compile internal report;

• Meet the parents of all working children covered under this programme to inform them the rights of the child and the harm for working in hazardous occupations and establish linkages between local union members and the key child labour actors;

• Hold three workshops: one at the provincial level, plus one at each site to create awareness about the importance of education, the rights of the child and the elimination of the worst forms of child labour;

Remarks:

This programme aims at both boys, who work in motor garages, and girls who are in the domestic services.This program aims to build the capacity of both boys and girls by imparting specifically vocational skills, and also create awareness on this issue.