ChildLabourDiscussionSheet

Factsaboutchildlabour Childlabourisdefinedasworkthatnegativelyimpactschildren.Itisworkthatis harmfultochildrensphysicalandmentalhealthandtheirsocialandspiritual development. Therearemorethan200millionchildrenaroundtheworldengagedinchildlabour. Itisnotunusualforchildrentobeforcedintoslavelikeconditions,theveryworstform ofchildlabour.Thistypeofchildlabourincludessituationswherechildrenarebonded labourersworkingindangerousconditions,childrenforcedintoarmedgroupsand childrentrappedinprostitutionandotherformsofsexualexploitation. Itisestimatedthat171millionchildrenworkinhazardousconditionssuchasinminesor inagriculturewithoutprotectionfrompesticidesanddangerousequipment. Theeducationofachildisalmostalwaysinterruptedwhentheyareengagedinchild labour.Achildsfutureopportunitiesarethenlimited,prolongingacycleofpovertyin thelifeofthechild,theirfamily,communityandtheircountry. Povertycauseschildlabourandpovertyisperpetuatedbychildlabour. Ineconomicterms,thereisacosttoeliminatingchildlabourintheworld.Thatcostis estimatedtobeUS$760billionovera20yearperiod.Theestimatedeconomicbenefit toeliminatechildlabour?MorethanUS$4trillion. Scripture HewenttoNazareth,wherehehadbeenbroughtup,andontheSabbathdayhewentinto thesynagogue,aswashiscustom.Andhestooduptoread.ThescrolloftheprophetIsaiahwas handedtohim.Unrollingit,hefoundtheplacewhereitiswritten: TheSpiritoftheLordisonme,becausehehasanointedmetopreachgoodnewstothepoor. Hehassentmetoproclaimfreedomfortheprisonersandrecoveryofsightfortheblind,to releasetheoppressed,toproclaimtheyearoftheLord'sfavor.Thenherolledupthescroll, gaveitbacktotheattendantandsatdown.Theeyesofeveryoneinthesynagoguewere fastenedonhim,andhebeganbysayingtothem,Todaythisscriptureisfulfilledinyour hearing.Luke4:1621 Andifanyonegivesevenacupofcoldwatertooneoftheselittleonesbecauseheismy disciple,Itellyouthetruth,hewillcertainlynotlosehisreward.Matthew10:412 DiscussionQuestions: 1. Therearesomanydisturbingelementstothepracticeofchildlabour.Whatareyour initialthoughtsandfeelingsafterviewingtheDVD,hearingPhearadysstoryandreading thestatisticsonchildlabour?

2. TheDVDyouhavewatcheddeliberatelysetsupasharpcontrastbetweenthelifeledby manyNorthAmericanchildrenandPhearadyslife,whichincludesa12hourworkday. WhatistheroleofaChristianinreversinggreatinjustices? 3. InthefirstBibleverseabove,weseeJesuscallandministrywasintegrallyconnected withthespiritualhealthofhisfollowers,butalsowithissueslikeoppression.Surely, childlabourfitsunderthiscategory.WhatdoyouthinkJesuswouldsaytoandrequire fromhisfollowerstodayregardingthispractice? 4. Inthesecondverse,fromMatthew,Jesususesthetermlittleoneswhichmakesus automaticallythinkofchildren.Weoftenusethattermfondlytorefertoyoung children.Probably,JesusmeantthemostvulnerableandweakofChristianfollowers, whichcertainlywouldincludechildrenlikePhearady.Whatdoesitmeantoyoutooffer acupofcoldwater(thatmostrefreshingofbeverages)toachildengagedinchild labour? 5. ThinkbacktosomeofthereasonsthatPhearadyhastoworkatthebrickfactorywith hermother.Listasmanyasyoucanremember.HowdoyouthinktheworkthatWorld Visionandotherlikemindedorganizationsdoincommunitiesaroundtheworldcan alleviatetheneedfamiliesandcommunitiesfeeltoengagechildreninthepracticeof childlabour? 6. Howcouldyourchurchorgroupworktogethertomakeanimpactonthisissue? ClosingPrayer DearGod, AllthroughtheBible:throughthewordsoftheprophets,throughyourlawsand commandments,throughJesuslifeandteachings,weseehowyoucareaboutthepoor,and thevalueyouplaceonthedowntroddenandvulnerable.Weprayforthemillionsofchildren trappedinchildlabouraroundtheworld. Weknowthatyouknoweachoneofthembyname.Weknowyoulovethem.Helpustosee themwithyoureyes,andlovethemwithyourheartaheartthatmustbebrokenbytheugly realityofhowyourchildrenaretreated. Strengthenandinspireustomoveforwardinourjourneyofjusticefortheselittleones.Helpus toseetherolewecanplayinencouragingalternativesforfamiliesandcommunities.Thankyou forhowmuchyoucare.Helpuscare.Helpusact. Amen FormoreinformationonthistopicvisitWorldVisionCanadasCombattingChildLabourpage.
(http://www.worldvision.ca/AboutUs/NewsCentre/tacklingpoverty/childrenincrisis/Pages/combattingchildlabour.aspx)