Telenor and UNICEF work to prevent child labour in Bangladesh

Outdoor schooling

The first stop of the Telenor/UNICEF field visit was the Sadarghat and Oyaezghat Open Air Schools where working children are offered non-formal education in a safe environment, under the supervision of trained staff. As part of their normal workday the children will typically perform tasks as porters, rag pickers or errand boys, or they will sell sweets or water. Many of them have dropped out of their regular schools, either to contribute to the family economy or because they simply have to earn a living.

The Open Air Schools offer them an opportunity to continue their schooling, through the support of social workers, teachers and peer educators. Peer educators are people who often come from a similar background to that of the children, and who have received training through the UNICEF programme.

“For me it is great inspiration to see how the field workers interact with these children. We have a large presence in this country and we know that we are in a position to make a difference for some of the children we have visited. Life has dealt them a tough hand, but through this project I hope many will get an opportunity to further develop their skills and continue their education. Who knows, one day they may be working for Grameenphone,” says Sigve Brekke, Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor’s Asian operations.

A safe place to rest

The next stop for the Telenor/UNICEF team was the Lalbagh Drop-in Centre, where there is much activity. The children were eager to show off their recently made drawings, and they entertained their foreign guests with a lively dance show. The Drop-in Centre offers non-formal education, and also provides group counselling, life skills training, cultural and recreational activities, health check-ups, hot and nutritious meals and, most importantly, shelter during the night. It is, essentially, a haven for young people who don’t have anywhere to go.

“Meeting these children face to face, off the street and inside a safe drop-in centre is proof that this project actually makes a difference. For us it has also been important to address a challenge relating to our value chain. These are children who might well have been recruited into performing hazardous work, possibly even for a sub-supplier to Grameenphone. While we are working systematically to prevent that from happening, and with encouraging results, we also want to strive to create good alternatives for vulnerable children, by offering them education and a safer environment,” says Hilde Tonne, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Responsibility.

Getting a second chance at school

The final visit of the day is to the Rahmat Government Primary School. Although understaffed and short on resources, it offers two school sessions each day, allowing more children to gain access to education. Among the 10-year olds, it is possible to spot older children who have been re-admitted to school after dropping out at an earlier stage.

“I am very pleased to see Telenor’s involvement. I feel that this visit has confirmed that through our efforts we are making a difference for vulnerable children- and we have now had an opportunity to witness that significant progress is made on the ground. This is a mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to the fight against child labour in Bangladesh,” says Kjersti Fløgstad, Executive Director of UNICEF Norway.

Read more about how Telenor and UNICEF teamed up to fight child labour

Learn about UNICEF’s campaign against child labour

Watch UNICEF’s music video in their campaign against child labour on YouTube