Child labour as a way of survival among vulnerable children in Wandegeya

Abstract

The study examined child labour as a way of survival among vulnerable children. The study was conducted in Wandegeya. The objectives of the study were to identify the circumstances that contribute to child labor, to describe the forms of activities children get involved in child labour, and to establish the effects of working among children involved in child labour in Wandegeya. The study used a qualitative research design; it specifically used semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview guide to collect data. The study established that vulnerable children aged between 10 to 15 years were confronted by a lot of circumstances which drove them into child labour. These included orphan hood, poverty in households, mistreatment from the step mothers and lack of a meaningful alternative. Furthermore, it was revealed that vulnerable children aged between 10 to 15 years were engaged in different activities like vending and hawking activities, selling food especially during market days, luggage carrying during the market days and collection of plastic and metal scrap. It was also established that the conditions in which vulnerable children aged between 10 to 15 years work were unfavourable. This is because the working conditions exposed children to unhealthy and dirty activities, hard labour, immoral behaviours, earning some small amounts of money and dangerous on their lives. The study recommended the government to join hands with non-government organization to sensitize different communities about the dangers of involving children in work when they are not yet to age recommendable for employment. It also recommended the law enforcement agencies like police to start operations arresting people who involve children in businesses like selling and vending on streets which scare them and avoid taking advantage of the children hence involve them in child labour. And it recommended the local community leaders to always educate people in their communities on how dangerous it is to force their children in marriage when they are still below the age of 18 contrary to the law, in case of such instances the culprits must be punished