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MV Foundation 'a source of inspiration'
On Saturday January 21st, MVFoundation celebrated both her 20th anniversary and the fact that 1 million children have been taken out of work and into school. During this celebration, thousends of former child labourers, Indian ministers and various dignitaries met during a big manifestation in Hyderabad. In a speech she gave to the conference, Sofie Ovaa, international coordinator of the Stop Child Labour campaign, spoke of the enormous success.
Read the speech below.
Dear friends,
It is an honor for me to take part in this very historical event. It is great to be part of such a celebration of what I would call re-writing the history of children of India and the world.
It is also my pleasure to congratulate MV Foundation for arriving at this successful day. Your success is a breakthrough for achieving children’s rights in India. But also a breakthrough for achieving children’s rights in other parts of the world.
MV Foundation has been the inspiration and strength behind the Stop Child Labour campaign.
‘Stop Child Labour – School is the best place to work’ is an international campaign, coordinated by Hivos (Netherlands) and executed with the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) and Alliance2015-partners Cesvi (Italy), Ibis (Denmark) and People in Need (Czech Republic) in collaboration with partner organisations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
SCL aims to eliminate all forms of child labour and to ensure formal full-time and quality education for all children, at least until the age of 15. The campaign calls on consumers, companies, governments and international organisations to be part of the solution. The campaign also supports organisations in child labour affected countries who work on the principle that 'no child should work; every child must be in school'. In doing so, the campaign works towards increasing and strengthening so called ‘child labour free zones’.
SCL has been working together with MV Foundation since many years; raising awareness and influencing policies and practices on the linked issues of child labour and education. We have been together in the European Parliament, lobbied national governments in the EU member states and visited different countries across the world to increase support for the concept of child labour free zones.
MV Foundation has also been a main source of inspiration for so many organizations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. SCL partner organizations visited MV Foundation in India to witness and discuss successful action on the ground. MV Foundation also visited these partners in their home countries for technical guidance and on-the-job support in the process towards creating child labour free zones. MV Foundation visited the Kbelas in Ethiopia, the tea plantations in Zimbabwe, the rice fields in Uganda, the garbage dumps in Honduras, the market places in Guatemala and so many more places.
Your efforts are very much appreciated and have impact in all these countries. Today, the seed thrown by MV Foundation on the issue of creating child labor free zones is disseminating in all corners of the world which for sure is blooming and get ready to harvest.
These are some words of appreciation from our partner ADAA, the African Development Aid Association in Ethiopia (Berhanu Tufa Workneh, Executive Director): "The hard way your organization came through towards ensuring the well being of children has given us a stamina and energy to work more. Now, the issue of creating child labor free zones (Kebles) is becoming the song and the rhythm of all actors across the world. Yes, MV Foundation has laid a ground and paved the way for all of us to come on board to work hard towards the abolishment of all forms of child labour particularly through education. Together we can create a child labour free world. Yes we can!"
These are some words of appreciation from our partner KIN, Kids in Need in Uganda (Christopher Wakiraza, Executive Director): "Sometime back when we were doing our work in the community, I heard a talk of "KITUBULU MADE IN INDIA". This is what the people of that community say of themselves. At first I thought that it was bad for them not to own up their achievements but rather attribute it to a far away land. But my understanding of their argument made me humble. They believe that the government has not done what it should and that is why they very much appreciate the practical example of successful action by MV Foundaiton that has inspired them to realize positive change. Therefore they say "KITUBULU MADE IN INDIA". LONG LIVE MV Foundation. Congratulations upon your so much admired achievements of 20 years."
I sincerely hope that we can continue to work together in the coming years. A next step in the process will be the Stop Child Labour international conference to be organized in Ethiopia later this year. MV Foundation will be there as key note speaker and resource agency. I am sure that we will be able to increase support for the concept of child labour free zones and realize the rights of millions of children more. I am looking forward to continue working with you and with the many other fellow travelers of our life’s journey of getting children out of work and into school.
I would like to end with some words of our partner FNV trade unions in the Netherlands (Mario van de Luijtgaarden, Policy Advisor):
1 million can change the world
1 million children out of work into school
2 million eyes reading books instead of crying
4 million arms and legs playing and enjoying
10 million fingers pointing at the right direction:
1 million can change the world
MV Foundation thank you very much!
