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Bunda students against child labour in Malawi
Problem: The findings by the Malawi Child Labour report prompted members of Students for Rural Youth in Development (SRYD) from Bunda College a constituent college of the University of Malawi to play a very significant role in the fight against child labour tobacco estates. There are approximately 1.4 million child labourers in Malawi, 52.6 percent of them (aged 5-17) are in agriculture; more than 200,000 children are in hazardous labour in agriculture, whereas 43.2% are in the community, social and personal service sectors. University students did not play significant role in the fight against child labour as witnessed by several government reports and programmes. Despite having a significant influence on people’s lives, these future policy makers have been neglected by several change agents in the fight against child labour.
Objectives: The overall objective of the project was to involve university students to contribute effectively in the fight against child labour in agriculture and promotion of primary eduction.
Specific objective
(1) Introducing summer and afternoon primary school sessions for child labourers and children at risk of child labour
(2) Undertaking community awareness campaigns on the ills of child labour and importance of education and establish community clubs against child labour
(3) Developing vocational skills in out of school and school going youth through sustainable agriculture livelihoods and other income generating activities
(4) Capacity building among university students and rural youth
Sponsor: Winrock International (US)
Stakeholders: Mchinji District Assembly
Project value: US$35,000.00
Specific location: Kapiri in Mchinji, Central Malawi
Activities: Ten students from Bunda College, Mzuzu University and technical colleges worked with communities as volunteers for three months. Ninety children were withdrawn from child labour and 55 children at risk were prevented. These attended summer school sessions where they learned english, mathematics and science. Older children were trained in horticulture, goat and rabbit production. Both parents and the youth participated in awareness campaigns that included drama, poster weeks, competitions and flyers on child labour and education.
Outcomes
- Academic performance in key subjects at primary school level was improved.
- Number of children going to primary schools especially girls increased.
- Improved income and food availability through new agricultural programmes at household and community level
- Increase number of livestock at village level.
- Promotion of primary education in rural areas and effective long-term relationship between graduates and primary students for sustainable development.
- Increased awareness among communities on the significance of education as a poverty reduction tool and the negative impacts of child labour.
- Half of the students have been employed in rural develoment related fulltime jobs by NGOs
- Child labour monitoring committees were established
- Capacity building for Bunda students and rural communities
- Capacity building for Bunda staff (DD Mkwambisi and Christopher Malemba attended a one week training in Bamako, Mali on Winrock project management practices.
Problems faced
- Students faced critical problems while in the field due to improper coordination and project management after the coordinator resigned to take up a well paid job.
- There was need to provide bicycles for the volunteers to reach remote areas.
- Communities required food first as such participation was affected
- Three months was not enough work with communities as such some technical information was not effectively transferred to beneficiaries.
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