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Youth Workshop on Child Labor Issues |
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Fulbright Center, Buffer Zone, Cyprus -- 8 February 2004 |
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With the planning and logistical assistance of Nicos Anastaciou, the YEP 17 group scheduled an afternoon workshop on child labor issues and potential social action. As an outgrowth of exposure to the global issue of oppressive child labor that was received by students at the 2001 SIT Youth Camp, YEP 17 was formed to work bi-communally in response to this critical problem that faces young people in poor countries around the world. Such a specific social issue workshop is a natural follow on for the youth camps as well. Having young Cypriots work bi-communally on a non-Cypriot issue of universal concern is an excellent way to bring them together and transcend differences. Addressing child labor, an issue that is of remarkable concern to teenagers, builds a general compassion for human beings that can only have a positive impact on the future of the island. There were about 25 students and a few adults attending this workshop. We were able to give the Cypriot premier showing of the new feature film (video) about child labor, Stolen Childhoods. The participants began to brainstorm action ideas including having each of their classes sponsor the monthly fees for the education of a child in another country, working with Sri Lankans living in Cyprus to build an island-to-island network that can respond to specific child labor or sweatshop abuses in Sri Lanka, and showing the Stolen Childhood video in their schools. SIT donated a copy of this video and another new video about the issue of sweatshop labor to YEP 17. The program was held at the Fulbright Center in the Buffer Zone on Sunday, February 8th so that some students attending the SIT Youth Camp Reunion could also join the session. |
Did you know?
- 250 million people worldwide toil under oppressive conditions of child and sweatshop labor - (UN).
- Tens of thousands of workers in the Unites States are victims of child and sweatshop labor - (U.S. Department of Labor).
- A majority of apparel imported to the United States is made under conditions of oppressive child and sweatshop labor.
- There is a growing national movement to educate and organize citizens to improve
working conditions for children.
- Because of citizen action, some corporations and universities are requiring labor codes
of conduct and independent monitoring of factories.
- Federal legislation has outlawed importation of products made with bonded (slave)
labor.
Gains have been made but much remains to be done. This conference aims to educate students and to stimulate positive action to reduce abuse to children worldwide.
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