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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.

More than a Coffee, a Promise

These coffee beans were born out of a crisis, but were transformed into a mother’s promise to her children. This is the story of Tania Andrade, leader of the CEMCAVIR cooperative, and how the past can become the strength to build a different future.

The Promise that Tastes Like Coffee

Sometimes, in the afternoon, I peek into the living room and the image stops me in my tracks: my daughter Maharen, 13, bent over her notebook; her brother Friedrich, 10, engrossed with his blocks on the floor. The scene is so quiet that the only sounds seem to be the strumming of a pencil and the occasional click of wood. From the kitchen, the aroma of coffee mingles with the smell of wood and rain. In those moments, two worlds, that of my past and that of her future, coexist in the same air.
I close my eyes and am transported back to my ten years. No pencil in my hand, but the weight of a machete to cut the grass or the rough feel of a wicker basket scraping my shoulders, a weight that grew with each red cherry my too-small hands plucked from the plant. My brow was furrowed too, but from the burning sun and from calculating how much longer the endless day would be. The only cycle I understood was that of work dictated by necessity.
That bridge between our past and our children’s future was built by my colleagues and me. After the rust plague almost took everything from us, we united to survive. But in that union, the more than 50 women who today make up CEMCAVIR, made a pact. With the support of the NGO Development and Self-Management (DyA), we turned our own story into a system to change our children’s story, materialized in the Seal Free of Child Labor (SELTI). For us, it is not a certification; it is the declaration of our independence from a past that was imposed on us.
Today, when I see Maharen getting frustrated with a task, I go up to her and say, “Take your time. The only weight you have to carry is your backpack.” She smiles at me, not yet understanding all that my words imply. I don’t need to. My job, and that of all my colleagues, is to make sure that the weight of history is ours, not hers.
This vision is the cornerstone of CEMCAVIR Cooperative, which has committed to child labor-free production, understanding that this decision not only protects the rights of children, but also strengthens the confidence of its customers and opens opportunities in responsible markets. CEMCAVIR aspires that this form of production generates networks of producers inserted in markets that value the effort and the vision of a coffee cultivated with responsibility, dignity and without child labor.
The coffee that you hold in your hands finances the education of our children, gives them the opportunity that we did not have, and carries the future of a girl who, thanks to this effort, dreams of going to university. It also has a high quality: more than 82 points on the cup and is cultivated in the Biosphere Reserve of Villa Rica, Peru.
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Innovation Meets Action on Child Labour in Coastal Bangladesh

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.

From Participation to Power: Child and Youth Activism for Change (Nepal, Peru and Uganda)

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.

Protecting the Rights of the Children in Coconut Oil Supply Chain in the Philippines

A practical, multi-dimensional Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) is being advanced in the coconut oil supply chain to strengthen sustainable, sector-based responses to child labour. Rooted in real-world implementation, this approach has helped prevent hundreds of children in hard-to-reach, smallholder farming communities from entering hazardous work by enabling early identification, referral, and support. The system is co-designed with local stakeholders, linking governments, civil society, and businesses through tools like referral frameworks, community help desks, and capacity building. Beyond child protection, CLMRS strengthens Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) for companies by providing structured, ongoing monitoring and remediation processes—embedding social accountability directly into supply chains and improving corporate risk management and sustainability performance.

Transforming Coffee Supply Chains: Uganda’s Localized Fight Against 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.