World Vision India’s special project ‘Delhi Child Restoration Project’ held a daylong event in New Delhi today to observe World Day Against child Labour. The event was aimed at creating awareness and encouraging former child labourers with their family to continue the fight against ‘child labour’, 

The Delhi Child Restoration project has been working towards restoring the childhood of about 5000 street and working children in central Delhi by ensuring the four components of Child Rights viz, survival, development, protection and participation.

The event witnessed as many as 100 children participating in different activities held throughout the day. The highlights of the event included play, song, quiz, testimonies sharing by former child labourers, drawing and a rally. The audience comprising both of children and women from SHG groups responded enthusiastically and participated actively in all the sessions. 

The testimonies which five children shared of their experience as former child labourers ignited hope among many present. Dev, one of the five happily shared, “I don’t go begging anymore because now I go to school. Earlier I like begging but now I don’t like it anymore”. Lajja, one of the parents, said “we didn’t know what education was earlier. All children in my community were either begging or picking rags. But now they are all going to school.” 

Delhi Child Restoration Project focuses on prevention, protection and advocacy. Over the years, it has implemented sustainable and transitional initiatives like setting up drop-in centres, self help groups, child protection committees, children’s clubs, street and working children forum, counselling and non-formal education (NFE) centres. The most effective and interesting program under this project has been the formation of theatre clubs with children’s club members, as part of the personality development and therapy for children addicted to drugs to come out of their addiction. 

The audience enjoyed the play performed by one of the children theatre groups on the theme of ‘End Child Labour’. Children were asked to draw pictures depicting their experience of child labour. The outcome was both diverse and interesting. While explaining their drawings, children amazed the audience with their ideas and thoughts.

The children also took part in a rally from Rani Jhansi Chowk to Paharganj Police Station. During the rally children raised awareness through slogans and distributed pamphlets calling for support to ‘End Child Labour’.