The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) is a
non-profit organisation
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
based in
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and known internationally for its work in empowering children to become the key protagonists in solving their own problems. While eradication of
child labour
Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such e ...
remains the key focus of CWC, the organisation opposes simple
criminalisation and addresses related issues such as children's rights, gender equality, community development, education and advocacy. Founded in 1985, it has organise
Bhima Sangha a union of and for working children that now has 20,000 members, and launched the National Movement of Working Children. Internationally, it co-founded the International Working Group on Child Labour (IWGCL), and CWC child delegates have contributed to ILO (
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and o ...
) conferences on child labour.
CWC believes that given political and social space, marginalised children could become protagonists of their own change. With the support of the Concerned for Working Children, active participation of children in understanding problems that affect them and in devising appropriate solutions, has led to the creation of 'Makkala Panchayats' (Children's Village Governing Bodies) in many parts of
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
.
CWC is playing a part in international research into children's mobility issues, with agreement on greater involvement of children in all aspects of this research project.
CWC receives funding support from a Norwegian charity
and CWC has been first NGO from
Bengaluru
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
to be nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Chemi ...
and holds a legacy for being nominated for the same for three years consecutively for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, for its pioneering works in the field of children's participation globally.
The nomination for the award was filed by three
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
parliamentarians on learning about the contributions of the
NGO
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
through a blogger from their country who shared his experience on a visit to
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and serving at CWC and the parliamentarians mentioned the same in their nomination letter as,“The organisation and its network have been pioneers in children’s participation within research, public planning, youth democracy, media and other areas. Few other local organisations elsewhere have contributed as much to this work”.
History
The Concerned for Working Children started working on the issue of Child Labour and Child Participation in the 1980s. The organisation registered itself as a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
in 1985 and headquartered at L.B. Shastri Nagar, Vimanapura,
Bengaluru
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
.
CWC's early work involved the unionisation of the informal sector where children below the age of 14 years comprised nearly 40% of the work force. The children and the members of the union embarked on an exercise to draft an alternative legislation for working children in 1985. The organisation since its inception had been working towards emancipation of children from weaker sections and make them respected citizens and help children in establishing and maintaining a secular, equitable, just and non-discriminatory world on par with their adult counterparts.
The organisation had planned to expand their outreach based on four ‘thematic pillars’ of child labour, child rights, migrant workers and civil society participation.
Till 2018,the organisation had reached out to more than one lakh beneficiaries directly through field works concentrated in different rural and urban areas within
Karnatka
Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...
and to expand its global reach the NGO had been proactive in capacity building, research and advocacy and collaborating with state administrations in working and achieving towards their ultimate goal of bringing children as participative citizens.
A team of 45 members from different walks of life including mass media experts, anthropologists, sociologists, advocates and social workers had been working efficiently in various roles helping them bridging for an effective result from past many years and right from citizenship of children and their right to participation to professing education for democracy, empowering the marginalised communities in ensuring a right governance model to make decisions equitable avoiding discriminations,the organisation had stayed focused in their contributions to the society.
Films
* Kavita Ratna, ''Citizens Today'', a film on children's right to participation from CWC, 2002.
* Kavita Ratna, ''Taking Destiny into Their Hands'', a film about how marginalised children are impacting their own destinies.
Further reading
*
*
References
{{Reflist
External links
The Concerned for Working Children official websiteThe Concerned for Working Children blog
Children's charities based in India
Child labour-related organizations
Organizations established in 1985
1985 establishments in Karnataka