Message From Babita Akhtar

An estimated 158 million children are engaged in child labor worldwide! 158 million!

It is disturbing to think that one in every six children is being forced into a life of servitude, for no other reason than because they were born into it. Children can hardly be held responsible for the poverty and inequity that plague us today, yet no sensible person can deny that it is children who suffer the most because of it.

As a mother I cannot bear to see another mother’s son or daughter wasting away in dangerous labor, toiling without hope of a better future.

Knowing that there are millions of children like this, I am compelled to speak out on their behalf. To put an end to their suffering, we should make a personal commitment to ensure their freedom. Freedom to be in classrooms as opposed to sweltering brick-fields; freedom to be with parents instead of uncaring overseers; freedom to laugh and play without worrying about putting food on the table.

It is not only a duty of DCI or other organizations like us but also of everybody, every single person. Our dream of a world free of child labor will only come true when every member of the society acknowledges this responsibility and gets involved.
Living and working in Bangladesh, I have witnessed harsh inequality all around me and have always felt the need to do something, but couldn’t find my path. I am sure many of you feel the same way.

I am grateful to DCI for giving me this opportunity to work for these children and I want to dedicate the rest of my life to this mission. Please join me, join our efforts, and stand by these children. Let’s try to give them the opportunity they deserve. Alone our efforts are limited, but we can do so much more if we rally together.