School Outreach: HFDI Promotes Education and Prevents Child Labour in Osun Schools
In a renewed push to protect children’s rights and promote education, the Hope for Family Development Initiative, HFDI, under the ACCEL Project conducted school outreach programmes at St. Peter Secondary School, Olode, Aderemi Memorial School and Aye-Oba Community High School, Ife-South LGA, Osun State.
The school outreaches were designed to increase students’ understanding of child labour and its various forms, educate students on their rights to protection, education, and healthy development, encourage regular school attendance and active participation in learning, motivate students to speak up and seek help when they experience or witness child labour, and reinforce education as a pathway to personal growth and community development.
Prior to the sessions, HFDI paid an advocacy visit to the principals of St. Peter School Mr. Oladunjoye A.E and Mr. Ojoje Ade to introduce the organization and purpose of the outreach.
The sessions facilitated by Adedeji Lekan, Osunwuyi Tobi, Ajayi Itunuoluwa and Ayomide opened with HFDI’s mission and vision, then engaged students in an interactive discussion on “What is Child Labour?”
The students learned that child labour is work that deprives children of their childhood, education, health, and overall development, such as street hawking during school hours, domestic servitude, farming activities that interfere with schooling, and other hazardous work unsuitable for children.
Students were also taught the negative consequences of child labour: poor academic performance, school dropout, abuse, physical and emotional harm, and limited future opportunities.
The facilitators emphasized that education equips children with knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunities to achieve their dreams. Students were urged to attend school regularly, respect teachers, and remain committed despite challenges.
On rights, students were reminded of their right to education, protection from exploitation, and to live in a safe environment. They were encouraged to report cases of abuse to teachers, parents, the Community Child Labour Monitoring Committee, CCLMC, or appropriate authorities.
The session included Q&A, practical examples, and open discussions to sustain interest, and students were also taught referral pathways for reporting abuse: CCLMC, trusted adults, parents, teachers, and school management.
The session ended with all participants reciting the Child Protection Pledge, increased awareness on the dangers of child labour and the value of education, improved student knowledge of child rights and available reporting mechanisms, as well as students demonstrated enthusiasm and confidence to report unsafe situations.
HFDI noted that the outreaches provided an important platform for educating children on child labour prevention and promoting education.
According to HFDI “Every child deserves a classroom, not a workplace. Continued sensitization in schools and communities remains essential to ensure every child is protected from exploitation and empowered to reach their full potential through education”.
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