Voices of the Affected
Through personal testimonies, we uncover the human cost of child labor across continents
Fields of Lost Childhood
"At 11 years old, I worked on lettuce fields to help my parents save up money for basic goods. The conditions were mentally and physically exhausting for a young girl. Working 12 hour shifts, a 30 minute lunch break with little food, and cold or wet climates."
The Weight of Survival
"I started working as a tantie bagage when I was ten years old, helping customers carry their groceries, with loads sometimes more than 50 kilograms for a 100 francs [20 cents]. I was working six days a week and on a lucky day, I could earn up to 1,500 francs (USD 3)."
The Final Shift
"At age 14, Liufu Zong worked in electronics manufacturing under a false identity. Every other day, his father would call to ask, 'Is the work exhausting?' and his son would reply, 'Yes, very exhausting.' After completing a long shift at the factory, he went back to his dormitory to sleep. He never woke up."
Root Causes
- • Poverty and inability to afford basic necessities
- • Lack of access to quality education
- • Family financial pressures
- • Systemic and hereditary labor practices
Impact on Children
- • Physical exhaustion and health risks
- • Limited access to education
- • Mental and emotional stress
- • Loss of childhood and development opportunities
