Marjia Ahmed: World Day Against Child Labour 2020; Voices of DCI Youth Leaders

Child Labor: A Time For Change
Around the world, 152 million children are victims to child labor. That is about 6.9% of all the children in the world. Most victims are only between the ages of 5 and 11. These children are supposed to be at school, learning, playing, and having fun! They are not supposed to be in overcrowded factories, underpaid, and at a risk for their lives. Child labor is not only unjust and inhumane, but it impacts the future of the world. Sooner or later, these children will become adults, but what will they have to show for it? They will not have an education, and due to this it will become difficult for them to succeed in life. Instead, they will more than likely be stuck in the same position they were in as children. They will be left struggling for the rest of their lives because no one decided to intervene– so please intervene. Many popular online brands use child laborers as a means of getting their work done. In recent years, companies such as Shein, Romwe, and Forever 21 have been caught in scandals regarding child labor.
According to the Dressember Foundation, “Child labor is prominent in the fashion industry due to its complex supply chain and high demand for products from consumers like you and I.” It is our job and responsibility, as people with the power to help, to aid those in need, especially these children. It takes only a few minutes to donate to organizations working on issues such as this one. It also takes very little time to educate yourself on what conditions these children are in and how they are living. Boycotting brands who use child labor and sweatshops to make a profit is not difficult either. Do your part as a citizen of this world and help make it a better place for not only children, but everyone.

Marjia Ahmed
Youth Leader, Distressed Children & Infants International (DCI)

Marjia Ahmed is a junior at Plainfield East High School. She was born in a Bengali family and has always had a great connection to her roots. Marjia Ahmed has been a volunteer at DCI since 2018.