Child labour is an unfortunate reality in Ecuador. From a very young age many children are sent out seven days a week to sell sweets, flowers or souvenirs to tourists.
Children also work in the markets selling both food and other products and will frequently offer to shine your shoes. Some of these children are sent out to work by their parents. Others are pretty much fending for themselves.
In theory child labour is prohibited by law before the age of fourteen in Ecuador, but in practice the police turn a blind eye to what is going on right in front of them.
Some of these children are able to go to school in the morning (often from 7am to 1pm for example) but many do not go at all. Either way they are pretty much exhausted for much of the time. Child labour is a practice which is very much engrained in Ecuadorian culture, even more so outside the capital.
Something to think about the next time we hear someone complaining about their homework...
It breaks ones heart to see these children. And at least in me it starts the same line of thoughts as with street beggar's: "Here's a poor person. I'd like to help. But do I help by giving. To whom does this money actually go...."
ReplyDeleteHow to help a child to finish his/her school instead of becoming a street wendor? And where is the motivation if one still has to work like a slave 7 days a week just to support yourself and yr family (like the taxi drivers you have written about or the hotel clerk etc). No easy way out, I am afraid.
Anne-Maarit