Gospel for Asia

Child labor exploitation is a worldwide issue that touches multiple industries and millions of children. The issues are complex, and some of them will take intense advocacy in order to uproot. However, there are two things you can do as an individual to help this situation. The first is to be aware of the extent of the problem. Two industries that are notorious for child labor intersect with many of our lives. Those are the garment/fashion industry and the chocolate industry. Being aware of the source of your goods and services is one way to make choices that either add to or take away from any companies profiting from the fragile minds, bodies and hearts of children working for them. Being an informed consumer is a great step in acknowledging and helping address child labor. The number one reason children find themselves in exploitive labor situations is due to poverty. 1 Families all over the world are forced to make decisions for their children that most people would never dream of

Child sexual exploitation can happen anywhere and takes place worldwide. It can even happen in the suburbs of affluent countries like the United States. A21 reports the following shocking statistics 1 : More people are enslaved today than any other time in history. Human trafficking generates $150 billion globally. 25% of all people trafficked are children. According to legaldictionary.net, sexual exploitation can include all of the following: indecent touching or exposure of or to a child, use of sexually explicit language towards a child, involvement of a child in pornography, showing a child pornographic material, early or forced marriage, rape, incest and sexual slavery. 2 Many of these have no ties to affluence or lack thereof and are not specific to any one region in the world. This insidious, evil form of exploitation will have lasting consequences for any child or minor. From poor health to depression to suicidal thoughts, a child experiencing sexual exploitation will be scarr

Many organizations are working to help people accurately answer the question: what is child exploitation? From organizations like the International Labour Organization to A21, many groups are working hard to inform the public about the extent of the exploitation. Legaldictionary.net defines child exploitation as “the act of using a minor child for profit, labor, sexual gratification, or some other personal or financial advantage.” 1 This includes but is not limited to: Child labor Sex trafficking Physical abuse Child sacrifice Child pornography Child marriage Child soldiers Each of these and more deprives a child of a healthy childhood when they should be growing, developing healthy relationships and receiving an education. UNICEF reports, “No matter their story or circumstance, all children have the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse.” 2 They also say, “Violence against children knows no boundaries. It happens in every country, and in the places children shou

Every industry needs workers in various positions to turn the economic wheel of supply and demand. There is the collection of raw material, the refinement of the goods and the transportation of the product to market. It takes many hands to bring an item from the initial stages to a ready piece of merchandise for the consumer to buy and for the company to make a profit from. But what if this economic wheel is made up of millions of tiny hands that should be holding a pencil in a schoolroom instead of a shovel in a mine? This is child exploitation at its essence, and it is insidiously interwoven into our economies. Legaldictionary.net helps us to fully see what is child exploitation , they define it as: “the act of using a minor child for profit, power, status, sexual gratification, or some other personal or financial advantage.” 1 It goes beyond child labor exploitation to include any act that treats a child as a commodity to be used or sold. The industries that have the most child la

UNICEF estimates that 1 in 6 children live in extreme poverty; millions of children do not have access to nutritious food, clean water or other life-saving resources. 1 Children living in poverty are at risk for illness, injury, child labor, violence and much more. Poverty is a global crisis that disproportionately affects children. Lack of resources Children living in poverty often do not have the resources to attend school. Many families must choose between using their money to send their children to school or using it for rent, food or even medical care. Parents Saelig and Dalora worked hard to provide for their family of five. 2 Despite long hours of tiring work, Saelig and Dalora could not afford to send their son, Sven, to school. One day, GFA child sponsorship program staff visited Saelig and Dalora’s home to meet the family. The staff shared about GFA’s child sponsorship program; Saelig and Dalora enrolled Sven shortly afterward. Staff at the child sponsorship program provide

Many studies demonstrate how poverty affects children. UNICEF indicates that 1 in 6 children live in extreme poverty, most of them living in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 1 Every child experiences poverty differently. Education Poverty and education go hand-in-hand because children experiencing poverty are less likely to attend school or complete their education, and without an education, they will most likely continue in poverty. According to UNICEF, “South Asia is home to the largest numbers of out-of-school children and youths at 31.8 million, with 8.2 million at primary level (6 to 9 years) and 23.6 million at the secondary level (10 to 14 years).” 2 Children who are not in school lose opportunities to learn and grow alongside their peers. Education helps children build reading, writing and math skills, as well as relationships, and it is a gateway to better-paying jobs in the future. Education also helps children develop confidence, self-esteem and hope for their lives. Educ

In order to help, we need to understand poverty and ask questions about poverty. How does poverty affect adults and their families? How does poverty affect children and their futures? Every child has a unique story about how poverty has affected their life; however, there are many common consequences of poverty. Lack of food — Families experiencing poverty often do not have access to sufficient food or nutritious food. Children living in poverty may experience malnutrition, which can lead to physical development delays and other health concerns. Lack of shelter — Many families living in poverty experience homelessness, evictions or regular moves. Insecure housing can cause stress; children experiencing poverty may not feel settled or safe in their homes. Lack of health — Unsafe drinking water, child labor and other aspects of poverty expose children to illnesses, diseases and injuries that can cause pain, discomfort or other disruptive symptoms. If injuries and illnesses are left un

The World Bank estimates that 689 million people (roughly 9.2% of the world) experience dire poverty. 1 Poverty is an extensive, global concern that affects all aspects of a person’s life. Among other things, it limits children’s opportunities for safety and security and exposes them to illness, injury and violence. There is a strong link between poverty and education. Poverty can cause undereducation, and undereducation often contributes to poverty. How poverty affects education touches children, their families and their whole communities. Poverty and undereducation is a vicious cycle. So how does poverty affect children ? Here are some of the ways: Housing – Many children in poverty are homeless or regularly relocate because they do not have a consistent or safe home. Children without housing security may not consistently attend school; they may also fall behind on their school work. Nutrition – Many impoverished people do not regularly eat enough nutritious food to build their im

Some ways we can stop the negative effects of child labor include advocating for its end, being thoughtful consumers and providing impoverished families with an alternative. Advocating for Its End Worldwide, 63 million girls and 97 million boys are in child labor. 1 This number is climbing due to the pandemic. Most of those children do not go to school, which is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. The first place we can advocate for its end is at the throne of God. The book of Hebrews in God’s Word tells us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 2 This includes our intercession for those we know are suffering. God, in His infinite love, is deeply concerned with the needs of every human on the planet. He exhorts us to pray without ceasing about all things. 3 We can also join our voices with organizations that are actively working to bring child labor to an end. Look for organizat

The emotional effects of child labor are devastating to the healthy development of the child. The International Labor Rights Forum reported in 2011 that children who work experience depression, isolation and insecurities in addition to the physical risks often associated. 1 Without the ability to play with friends and have normal adult-child relationships, children do not properly develop socially or emotionally. This can lead to drug dependency, post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues. 2 If a child is caught into the sex trafficking industry, these effects are even worse. One study of child laborers out of Brazil reported that “work during childhood increases the risk of developing depression in adulthood. Family mental health status and chronic physical illness play a substantial role in the risk that child laborers have to develop depression.” 3 The Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences blog elaborated in 2016, saying “Depression, hopelessness, shame, guilt, loss o

The causes and effects of child labor vary by location and situation. However, there are some common denominators that are laced through nearly every situation. The number one cause of child labor is poverty . 1 Families who are always on the brink of starvation are forced to make decisions about their children’s futures that most of us would never dream of making. It is often a domino effect that starts with the struggle to survive. Even if the children are able to start school, parents choose to remove them because of the extra expenses. An idle pair of hands is then seen as a possible way to finally get a little ahead. And that’s when the child is sent to work or, worse, sold into work. This begins a cycle that is extremely difficult to break. If the child doesn’t have a healthy childhood with school and socialization, they will likely remain illiterate and not have the opportunity to get a job that could lift them out of the poverty cycle. And so it goes for their children, too. T

Children should be asked questions about what they want to be when they grow up or what class at school they like the best. Children should not be treated for machete wounds from working long, difficult hours in sugar plantations. Their childhood stolen, these youth grow up with the lifelong negative effects of child labor . No parent plans on pulling their child from school and sending them into day labor. It’s a difficult, often emotional decision for parents to make in the midst of extreme poverty that threatens their very survival. Families who live at or below the World Bank’s poverty line of $1.90 per day are often faced with horrific decisions about their children’s futures. 1 With no marketable skills and often no literacy or numeracy, adults must take jobs that anyone can do, such as brick making, farm or plantation work, or other labor jobs. These jobs rarely sustain families. One of the first costs to be cut is often fees related to attending school, preventing the child fr

Illiteracy is a global issue that affects millions of people. 1 Illiteracy deprives adults of opportunities to navigate work and society, provide for their families and escape poverty. Illiteracy remedies like literacy classes, vocational skills training and child sponsorship provide hope to families worldwide. Education empowers people. These remedies provide: Better-paying jobs — Illiteracy can be a consequence of poverty, but it can also contribute to poverty. Many adults are trapped in difficult, low-paying jobs in fields and factories because they are undereducated. Educated adults qualify for better-paying jobs that help provide food, housing and transportation for their families. Educated adults can join workplaces that offer living wages and have better employee protection against working excessive hours in poor conditions. Better community involvement — Educated adults can read newspapers, government policies and more that keep them informed about current events. Moreover,

To learn how to read and spell, for adults especially, creates confidence, hope and opportunities, both for the individuals and their families. UNESCO estimates that 773 million adults are illiterate worldwide; most of these adults are women. 1 Illiteracy disproportionately affects women for many reasons, and those barriers often begin years before. Barriers to educating girls include lack of menstruation education and products, societal biases, child marriage and gender-based violence. Girls may need additional support to attend school and build literacy. Every man and woman has a unique story about how poverty and illiteracy impact their lives. Illiteracy was a lifelong struggle for Jeni. 2 When she was a young girl, Jeni’s family experienced dire poverty that prevented her from attending school. Jeni could not read books, newspapers or street signs; She could not read to her five children or help them with their homework. Illiteracy deprived Jeni of opportunities for joy and learni

Most education targets children and teenagers; however, many adults are not functionally literate. Providing a learn to read program for adults helps individuals build skills that promote hope. Simply put, literacy is the ability to read and write. However, Literacy Advance contends that “ Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen, and use numeracy and technology, at a level that enables people to express and understand ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, to achieve their goals, and to participate fully in their community and in wider society.” 1 GFA World has been combatting adult illiteracy for years in Asia. GFA literacy classes teach adults valuable reading, writing and elementary math skills. Functional literacy qualifies adults for higher-paying jobs and empowers adults to advocate for themselves and their families. Literacy classes connect adults with helpful and engaging teachers who offer: Reading lessons — Through literacy classes, adult

Functional illiteracy means an individual can only demonstrate simple reading and writing; their reading, writing and math skills are not enough to navigate jobs, marketplaces or health care. Illiterate adults have limited opportunities and understanding of society. Adult illiteracy affects individual adults, their families and their communities. UNESCO estimates that 773 million adults are illiterate worldwide; most of these adults are women. 1 Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have higher illiteracy rates than the rest of the world. Countries like Chad, Guinea, South Sudan, Burkina Faso and Afghanistan have the lowest literacy rates worldwide. 2 However, illiteracy is also prevalent in developed countries like Canada and the United States. Supporting programs that help teach people how to learn to read, for adults especially, provides crucial help to communities worldwide. Many adults are functionally illiterate because they did not have sufficient opportunities and support to att

GFA World has been participating in solutions to child slavery for decades. We seek to serve the “least of these” in Asia and Africa where child slavery and labor are prevalent. Here are some effective solutions we have developed: Poverty Alleviation – Since poverty is the root cause of much of child slavery, many of our programs invest in helping families who live in extreme poverty. When some financial stress if relieved from the family, there is less likelihood of a parent selling his or her child into slavery. Literacy and Vocational Education – When adults don’t know how to read, it is a hindrance to their daily life and income potential. It leaves them vulnerable to predators, including entrapping their children into slavery or labor. GFA’s literacy and vocational training classes equip participants with skills that can be the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. They learn entrepreneurial skills so they are qualified for higher levels of employment. GFA provides them with gi

The following child slavery facts reveal the seriousness of the issue: Female victims continue to be the primary targets in trafficking. Women make up 46% and girls 19% of all victims of trafficking. 1 Globally, one in every three victims detected in trafficking is a child. 2 The share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled. The share of boys has increased five times over the past 15 years. 3 Adolescents and youth on the move are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation than adults. In a study on the Eastern Mediterranean Route of migration, 17% of adolescents and youth reported exploitation, compared with 10% of those 25 and older. Migrant or refugee adolescents with lower levels of education are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. 4 Of the total number of victims of modern slavery, 24.9 million people were in forced labor in 2016 and 15.4 million were living in a forced marriage. 5 The International Labour Office (ILO) reports that 152 million

Child slavery today takes on many forms. It may be the child bride, forced to wed as a girl or teen, or the child forced to mine cobalt for hours every day. The examples are endless, but the victims are real. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations says, “Human trafficking is a heinous crime happening all around us. The victims—30% of which are children—are subject to forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. We must do more to bring criminals to justice, and help victims rebuild their lives.” 1 Here are some modern forms of child slavery: Orphanage Slavery – Some orphanages actively recruit children from families, or parents may willingly send them to “orphanages” to access promised services. 2 Some of these orphanages are largely scams that attract money from charities or well-meaning individuals. The children are left malnourished as a way of receiving more income and attracting orphanage tourism. Migration Slavery – Refugee and migrant childr

All slavery, including child slavery, may have been officially outlawed in many places, but there are now more slaves in the world than ever before in history. 1 Estimates vary, but one study says that between 2011 and 2018, almost 90 million people experienced some form of modern slavery. 2 No country escapes the presence of slavery: “Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Traffickers the world over continue to target women and girls. The vast majority of detected victims of trafficking are for sexual exploitation and 35 per cent of those trafficked for forced labour are female. Conflict further exacerbates vulnerabilities, with armed groups exploiting civilians and traffickers targeting forcibly displaced people.” 3 How are children impacted by slavery? Child slavery facts reveal that one in four victims of modern slavery are children. 4 Child slavery often looks like forced labor. The Inte