Committees advocates for ARISE

Two members tell all

In the village of Itebulanda, a select group of active community members are helping to bring about changes and end child labor. Two of those members share their personal experiences and why they believe in ARISE.

Village child labor protection committees help to overcome many of the local obstacles that stand in the way of ending child labor. They identify, monitor and prevent children engaged in, or at risk of, engaging in child labor. They also develop and implement plans, and set priorities. Many of the committee members have their own experiences of child labor and are strong advocates of the ARISE Program.

Mrs Winfrida Andrea Kikondo first moved to Itebulanda in 1972 when she was still a schoolgirl. She barely completed her primary education when she got married and had children. All of her seven children were sent to school and some have completed secondary education. All but one of her children are now married and have families of their own. As a member of the local Most Vulnerable Child Committee (MVCC), Winfrida attends ARISE trainings and shares her knowledge with her family and community. She is a firm believer in education and a community activism as key ways to end child labor.

Mr Petro Respecious Gumbo was born and raised in the village of Itebulanda. Due to the unexpected and early death of his father, he was unable to attend secondary school and was forced to take over his father’s tobacco business to support himself and his six younger siblings. Mr Petro found considerable success, which allowed him to put his three younger brothers through school and university, and they are all currently at various stages of graduating. He believes that child labor is the biggest problem associated with the tobacco industry in Itebulanda. Although he overcame his own unfortunate circumstances, having been forced into work at a young age himself, he is grateful to ARISE for raising awareness about the dangers of child labor. He has five children of his own but has never employed children on his farm. It is his greatest wish that ARISE, together with government and other stakeholders, achieves its’ goal of eliminating child labor entirely in his village. He says, “We ask that education around the issues associated with child labor continues to reach all areas of the district, and that the ARISE partnership continues to grow in strength. This way we will be able to truly abolish child labor.”