Kenya: Solidarity Center/Union Project

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Kenya Solidarity Center/Union Project
International Labor Organization
IPEC
International Program on the Elimination of Child
Labor
US Department of Labor
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Country Map
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Background

• In Kenya
• 3 million children between 6-14 work
• Many working children in agricultural sector
• Work seen as greater benefit than school

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Background

• One-year pilot project completed by Solidarity
  Center and Unions to
• Raise awareness
• Remove children
• Enrol them in school

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Objectives

• Use trade union structure to raise awareness
• Empower coommunities to return children to
  school
• Create sustainable local partnerships

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Process

• Most effective method in Africa
• Mobilize broad alliance
• Give emphasis to community-based approach

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Process

• Grassroots workshops
• Trained 550 personalities
• Awareness raising actions reached 20,000 people
• Community Child Labor Committees formed

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Problems achievements

• 340 children returned to school
• 40 micro-finance groups formed
• 132 self-help groups formed
• Newsletter produced
• Awareness-raising at all levels

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Problems achievements
Awareness Raising targets

• Parents and Guardians
• Working children
• Community
• Teachers
• Union leaders
• Participants
• Estate Managers
• Others

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Lessons learned

• Using trade union strucutre is effective
• Multi-union approach provides maximum impact
• Solidarity Center a useful facilitator
• Approach replicable in other African countries

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IPEC International Program on the Elimination
of Child Labor