IREWOC Research Reports
The reports may be cited, printed and distributed freely, as long as all authors and IREWOC are mentioned clearly.
Project title: Street Children Peru
June 2009 – November 2010
Researchers: Talinay Strehl & Anna Ensing
Project Director: Kristoffel Lieten
This project is funded by Cordaid, Plan Netherlands and ASN Bank
IREWOC recently completed its research project on street children in Peru. Local organisations expressed the need to update the information about this specific group of children. A qualitative comparative research between Lima and Cusco was conducted by IREWOC researcher Talinay Strehl. She spent two months in each city communicating with the children, their families, NGO workers etc., looking for answers to important questions concerning the situation of the children, especially regarding their experiences with interventions implemented in their name.
The research project also included a quantitative component. Eighteen local researchers carried out a survey among 1200 street children in Lima and Cusco by means of questionnaires. Anna Ensing and Talinay Strehl trained the researchers during a one-week workshop in November 2009. The quantitative data provides a strong base on which to analyse the anthropological material.
This research was funded by Cordaid, Plan Netherlands and ASN Bank. Depending on future funding, research on street children will take place in other cities across the world as well. Applications for funds with some organisations have reached an advanced stage. Any parties interested in becoming involved should contact us through info@irewoc.nl
The quantitative study produced two reports, which can be downloaded here>>>
Street-Working and Street-Living Children in Peru:
Quantitative Report Cusco
- by Anna Ensing and Talinay Strehl
Street-Working and Street-Living Children in Peru:
Quantitative Report Lima
- by Anna Ensing and Talinay Strehl
The main report for this project is qualitative in nature, but calls on the data collected and presented in the two quantitative reports mentioned above. You may cite from all reports as long as IREWOC and all authors are mentioned clearly.
Street-Working and Street-Living Children in Peru:
Conditions and Current Interventions (WebISBN 978-90-79078-26-4)
- by Talinay Strehl
The main report was summarised, and can be downloaded here in English and Spanish:
Summary Report: Street-working and street-living children in Peru
Project title: The Worst Forms of Child Labour in Asia
January 2008 - March 2010
Researchers: Afke de Groot, Anna Ensing, Nanna Baum, Mariette de Graaf
In spite of the breakthrough of Convention 182, the focus on the worst forms of child labour has been waning. Research indicates that the majority of NGOs work with children who perform light activities for only a few hours a day, which are actually tolerated under the ILO convention 182 norms. At the same time this relative absence of action is paralleled by a lack of information. Vast sectors are structurally overlooked and understudied. Additionally the qualitative material is very poor, excluding the perspectives of the child labourers and their parents.
IREWOC previously conducted this project in Latin America (see below). It was then expanded into Asia. Afke de Groot studied children in brick kilns, restaurants, and those working as porters in Nepal. Anna Ensing studied children working in the leather sector and the conditions of working girls in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nanna Baum studied domestic workers in Bangladesh - both in the city and at home in the villages. Additional data is presented by Mariette de Graaf, who studied the working conditions of children involved in Dhaka's leather sector from an occupational hygiene point of view.
The Worst Forms of Child Labour in Asia. Main findings from Bangladesh and Nepal - contributors: G.C.M. Lieten, Afke de Groot, Anna Ensing, Nanna Baum, Mariette de Graaf
Hazardous Child Labour in the Leather Sector of Dhaka, Bangladesh - by Anna Ensing
A Triple Burden: Young, Poor and Female. Working Girls in the Homes and Streets of Dhaka - by Anna Ensing
Child Labour in Kathmandu, Nepal - by Afke de Groot
In relation to the research project on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, IREWOC conducted a capacity training workshop in Indonesia in 2008 [read the report here].
As a result a number of participants carried out their own independent research on child labour issues in Indonesia. We will post their reports here as they become available.
Mining Black Gold from the Dark Tank.
Child Labour in Asphalt and Oil Collection in
Central Java, Indonesia - by Realisa Massardi
Girls in the Garment Sector in Tirupur, India
In 1989, the UN adopted the Child Rights
Convention. The bottom line of the Convention is that children all over the
world should avail of the same rights. This, many scholars in the western
countries have argued, again amounts to the imposition of western values on
the entire world. Such an imposition has been done under the garb of
universalism, the relativists claim.
This study examines the relation between reality and desires of girls
working in the garment industry. It describes their daily routines, their
social relations, their work experience and their dreams. These are placed
within the discussion of a universal versus a local childhood. Based on
fieldwork findings, the argument is challenged that child labourers desire a
culturally-defined childhood over the universal childhood. It appears that
in Tirupur, where so many of our garments are made, the principles of the
CRC do not seem to be imposed by purely western values. The girls in this
study may indeed come from traditional backgrounds, but long for change and
are positive about their future.
Being a Good
Girl: The construction of childhood in Tirupur, India - by Froukje Gaasterland (2009)
Project title: Rural Child Labour in Andean Countries
May 2008 - February 2009
Researchers: Marten van den Berge, Laura Baas
According to its global report The End of Child Labour: Within Reach, the ILO estimates that 218 million children in the world work, of which 126 million in hazardous working conditions. SIMPOC/ILO estimates that 69% percent of all working children work in agriculture. In Latin-America 5.7 million children are involved in child labour, and again, the majority work in rural areas (70%). Although rural child labour in many Latin-American countries has been the subject of research and policy measures, the Andean region, which is one of the poorest regions of Latin-America, has been mostly overlooked.
IREWOC therefore conducted a research project in two Andean counties, Bolivia and Peru, in 2008. In each country, child labour on small family farms was compared with child labour on commercial plantations. The main research population included the children engaged in rural forms of child labour, their parents and (N)GO staff working with this target group. The research has produced knowledge on rural child labour informed by ground reality that looks beyond quantitative numbers, and which identifies the (context) specific needs of the children and their caretakers. The research explored the different forms of rural child labour and documented the opinions of the children, caretakers and development workers on the possible solutions to the problems.
This project was financed by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and PLAN Netherlands.
Rural Child Labour in Andean Countries: problems and solutions - Marten van den Berge and Laura Baas
Child Labour in Guaraní Communities in Bolivia- by Laura Baas
Child Labour on Sugar Cane Plantations in Bolivia- by Laura Baas
Rural Child Labour in Peru. A comparison of child labour in traditional and commercial agriculture - by Marten van den Berge
Trabajo Infantil Rural en el Perú. Comparación del trabajo infantil en la agricultura tradicional y moderna, desde los testimonios de niñas, niños, adolescentes y padres de familia. - by Marten van den Berge
Project title: The Worst Forms of Child Labour in Latin America
September 2006 - May 2008
Researchers: Marten van den Berge, Anna Ensing, Luisa Quiroz, Laura Baas
In spite of the breakthrough of Convention 182, the focus on the worst forms of child labour has been waning. Research indicates that the majority of NGOs work with children who perform light activities for only a few hours a day, which are actually tolerated under the ILO convention 182 norms. At the same time this relative absence of action is paralleled by a lack of information. Vast sectors are structurally overlooked and understudied. Additionally the qualitative material is very poor, excluding the perspectives of the child labourers and their parents.
To tackle this lack of information and contribute to policy making in the field of child protection, the IREWOC Foundation started an action-based research in September 2006 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Latin America. Research questions were designed to accommodate policy making by first mapping the ground reality of child labourers and their families and to subsequently identify best practices of governmental and nongovernmental organisations in this field. A special focus within the research is on the relation between the worst forms of child labour and education.
Based on partnerships and former research experience, IREWOC chose to conduct this research on the Latin American continent. Research was carried out in Bolivia, Peru and Guatemala. The selected sectors were mining, commercial agriculture, markets and waste collecting. Within these sectors NGOs working on the worst forms of child labour will be evaluated as to make an inventory of best practices.
The research results were presented to a selection of policy makers and members of the press, on Thursday 22nd May 2008, in The Hague, The Netherlands.
The Summary Report of the main findings from the seven country reports is available here>>>
The Worst Forms of Child Labour in Latin America: Identification and Policy Options
Las Peores Formas de Trabajo Infantil en America Latina: Identificacion y Opciones Estrategicas
The individual country reports will not be published in hard copy, but can be downloaded here>>>>
Child Labour in the Mining Sector of Peru
Child Labour in the Urban Sectors of Peru
Child Labour in Mining and Quarrying in Cajamarca, Peru
Child Labour in the Mining Sector of Bolivia
Child Labour in the Sugar Cane Harvest in Bolivia
Child Labour and Quarrying in Guatemala
Child Labour in the Coffee Sector of Guatemala
The results of the fieldwork were presented at local meetings prior to the finalization of the summary report. Concise recordings of these procedures are included in the summary report.
Project title: Deprived Children and Education
January 2006 - November 2007
Researchers: Afke de Groot, Albertine de Lange, Heike Roschanski
In January 2006 Irewoc started a child-based research project on deprived children and education in which the focus is on the realities of the children and their parents. This study aims to deepen the understanding as to why many children do not go to school by collecting insights from the source. Are the reasons economic, cultural or are they related to the relevance and quality of education? Detailed anthropological fieldwork was carried out in areas with alarming figures regarding non-schooling and illiteracy in Africa (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya), South Asia (Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh).
The Summary Report of the main findings from the seven country reports is available here>>>
Education in Rural Areas: Obstacles and Relevance
The country reports will not be published in hard copy, but can be downloaded here in pdf format>>>>
Burkina Faso
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Nepal
Pakistan
Project title: Working Children: Unionisation and Participation
Researchers: Marten van den Berge, Godefroid Nimbona, Heike Roschanski
This study was conducted in Peru, Bolivia, Senegal, India, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. The principal objective was to analyse how working children in selected developing countries are organised, and how, by their participation/non-participation in organised movements, they have effected changes in their working circumstances, in their self-esteem and in their prospects. Positive outcomes have been claimed by the child labour unions and by their protagonists. This research aimed to establish whether the lofty ideals are realised, and whether or not such unions contribute to condoning and legitimising child labour.
Country reports can be downloaded here in pdf format>>>
Peru
Bolivia
India
West Africa
East Africa
Hard copies of most of the country reports can be ordered from info@irewoc.nl
Project title: Child Labour Migration and Trafficking in Burkina Faso’s South-Eastern Cotton Sector
Researcher: Albertine de Lange
2006
This study contributes to the understanding of African child labour migration, including child trafficking, a type of child labour migration whereby children are actively recruited and transported by adults. Both practices often lead to exploitation of children and especially child trafficking is currently receiving growing attention as a serious violation of children’s rights.
In this study, explanations for the occurrence and persistence of child labour migration were investigated by looking both at the child catchment area, i.e. communities and families that are affected by the phenomenon, and on the farms where the children are being employed.
The focus of this study was on rural-rural child labour migration, which generally involves the migration (including trafficking) of rural children to commercial cotton plantations elsewhere.
Going to Kompienga - by Albertine de Lange
Studying Child Labour. Policy implications of child-centred research
IREWOC
2005
IREWOC staff presented their findings from three projects completed in the past year. The projects involved the themes of education, child agency and participation in the context of organised working children, and child labour migration and trafficking.
Read the presentation report>>>
Project title: Children as Agents in Development
Individual Country Reports:
Vietnam: Children and Development in Vietnam, by Le Thi Quy
Central America: The Child Participation Approach of Plan International: Childpro and Child Media in Central America, by Ingrid Stegeman
El Salvador and Honduras: Transcripts of Childpro and Child Media Events in El Salvador and Honduras, by Ingrid Stegeman
Bolivia: Niños Estudiantes Trabajadores en Bolivia: Sector Urbano-Rural, by David LLanos Layme y Antonio Moreno Valdivia (Spanish version)
Nicaragua: Situacion de la Ninez y Perspectivas de Desarrollo Humano en Nicaragua, by Dr. Luis Serra y Marcia Castillo S. Ph. D. (Cand.) (Spanish version)
The synopsis of the final report Children As Agents In Development is available in English.