Day-6

"I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me."

— Jesus (Matthew 25: 36)

Activity: Working hard

Though it doesn’t get talked about very often, child labor remains a real danger for many kids around the world. Today’s activity will help your family start talking about child labor — what it is, what it isn’t, and how you can pray and make a difference for kids who are losing their childhoods because of this problem.

1) Ask everyone to talk about the different types of work they do, how long they spend doing the work, and whether or not they get paid. Note these examples on a sheet of paper. Talk for a little bit about how this work benefits the people who do it, their families, and their communities — as well as what it costs them (what they may have to give up).

2) Talk about what types of work you feel are not appropriate for children and young people. Also discuss any reasons why young people might be engaged in work that is unsuitable or done in harmful conditions.

3) Share the following facts about child labor:

  • In the world’s poorest countries, nearly one of every four kids (5-year-olds to 14-year-olds) are doing work that can be harmful to their health. These children have to work to keep themselves and their families alive.
  • Some work done by children and young people is not considered child labor — like helping with appropriate tasks on the family farm after school, doing chores around the house, or having a paid, part-time job after they’re a legal age. This kind of work is a positive way for children to learn new skills, develop responsibility, learn how to manage money, and experience the work environment. It helps them prepare for adult jobs and become contributing citizens.
  • Child laborers in the developing world are forced (or even tricked) into a variety of jobs. Some work in people’s homes, on big farms, or in factories doing things like sewing clothes or making fireworks. They may shine shoes, pick through garbage dumps, or sell small items on the street. In war zones, children may be persuaded or forced to become soldiers. Many child laborers don’t live in places where they are protected by laws.
  • Many individuals, governments, and organizations are working to stop child labor everywhere. They consider child labor unacceptable and one of the most urgent issues of our time.

4) Tell everyone that you’re going to read the following five short stories aloud. As a family, decide whether each story describes child labor and give reasons for your answers. After you’ve decided, read the correct answers below.

Scenario 1 — Rosie



Rosie is 13 years old and goes to school every day. When she gets home from school, she must make dinner and watch her 5-year-old sister for two hours until her mother gets home from work. She is a good student who usually spends the evening doing her homework but sometimes plays with her friends.

Scenario 2 — Jimbo



Jimbo is 11. His school is overcrowded and poorly run. He knows his parents are having a hard time paying the required school fees because they often can’t afford food for the family. Jimbo decides to drop out of school and start working on the streets as a recycler so he can help his family.

Scenario 3 — Hope



Hope left school at age 14 because her mother got a new job and her parents needed her to do the housework. Hope now works from 6 in the morning until 7 at night, cooking, cleaning, shopping, doing laundry, and caring for her younger brothers and sisters. She would like to have time to visit her friends, but she is just too tired in the evenings.

Scenario 4 — Joseph



Joseph is 10 years old. His family has a small farm. At harvest time, Joseph is expected to help out after school on weeknights and full time on the weekends for about three weeks. This is hard work and very tiring for Joseph. He sometimes falls asleep during class at this time of the year.

Scenario 5 — Radha



Radha’s parents were unable to pay a debt they owed to a local moneylender. The moneylender arranged for Radha to work until the debt was paid. Radha, who is 12 years old, now works in a match factory. She is expected to work 10 hours every day, sitting on the floor. Her boss refuses to pay her on the days he thinks she has not done enough work.

Here are the correct answers:

Not Child Labor



Scenarios 1 and 4 are not child labor. The chores Rosie and Joseph do are not exploitative or harmful, nor do they interfere in a significant way with their education or development. This work is part of family life.

Child Labor



Scenarios 2, 3, and 5 are child labor. In all three cases, the children are being denied an education and their chance to develop as children.

Dinner devotional questions:

  1. What kind of chores do you do?
  1. Do you get paid to do the work? Why or why not?
  1. Some kids are doing really hard work that children should not have to do or be allowed to do. Why do you think they have to do this?
  1. What’s the difference between child labor and chores?
  1. What can we do to bring child labor to the attention of more people? Why do you think it’s important for more people to know about this issue?

Ways to pray

  • Pray that children who have been forced or tricked into child labor would be able to escape it, and that families would have other options for their kids.
  • Pray that children everywhere will be safe from those who want to use them for their own benefit.
  • Pray for countries to make laws that better protect children from labor, and to put the long-term health of their children first.
  • Pray for organizations like World Vision who work to help people see that child labor is harmful.