We believe the most lasting change happens when communities lead. These stories show how local action—supported by our programmes and advocacy—is transforming lives and systems. From protecting children in global supply chains to empowering young activists, community-led solutions are at the heart of ending child labour for good.
In coastal Bangladesh, where thousands of children were once forced to work in hazardous shrimp fry collection and fishing to support their families, the RESOURCE project (Raising Economic and Social Security in Agriculture for Child Labour Eradication) is changing lives. Through a powerful mix of livelihood support, school engagement, and community monitoring, over 2,300 children have been prevented or withdrawn from child labour. Community-led child labour monitoring committees now track school attendance and intervene early. With local government support and active community ownership, the project is building lasting systems for child protection, education, and resilience against climate shocks.
Across Nepal, Peru, and Uganda, children and youth are not just participating—they’re leading with activism as a result of our programmatic and advocacy interventions. In Nepal, 113 young advocates took charge of 25 campaigns across 30 municipalities, influencing policies and amplifying child voices at national forums. Peru’s DENATI (Defenders of Children and Youth against Child Labor) group trained 20 adolescent leaders to push for child labour reforms through direct engagement with authorities. In Uganda, survivors and child rights clubs became grassroots activists—identifying peers, reporting abuse, and drafting advocacy charters. From local to national levels, youth-led activism is shaping a more accountable, protective response to child labour.
In Uganda’s Mt. Elgon region, our integrated efforts brought together coffee companies, local government departments, CSOs, and communities to take coordinated action against child labour. A strong Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS), structured across district, sub-county, parish, and village levels, enabled early identification, referral, and support—reaching over 4,900 children and caregivers with services including psychosocial support, alternative care, and GBV prevention. Six major coffee companies and four cooperatives signed formal commitments to eliminate child labour from their supply chains, backed by capacity building and due diligence training. The “Seeds for Education” initiative, which linked school feeding to household food security, led to a 25% rise in enrolment and slashed absenteeism from 20% to just 1%. Farmers were equipped with tools, inputs, and agronomic support to grow food for both income and school meal contributions. By embedding child protection into business practices and linking local CLMS data to Uganda’s national Child Wellbeing Monitoring System, the project has laid the foundation for sustainable, community-led responses that make child labour-free supply chains a reality.
