Health
CAPRIGHTS-VP Commits To Preventing Child Domestic Work Through Economic Empowerment
By Lilian U. Okoro
The Centre for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS-VP) has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing child domestic work through economic empowerment of vulnerable families and communities.
The organisation on Monday in Lagos decried that economic hardship could influence decisions about children’s future, including sending them away to work as domestic workers.
It said that no fewer than 70 women, men and young girls participated in a free five-day skills acquisition programme in March at Ikotun-Igando LCDA, where they were trained in bag making, makeup artistry, gele tying, pedicure and manicure.
The organisation said the intervention was designed not only to provide practical skills but also to help beneficiaries explore sustainable income-generating opportunities.
“Preventing child domestic work requires more than awareness. Families also need practical opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods and provide for their children.
“Strengthening a family’s ability to earn can help reduce the economic pressures that place children at risk of child domestic work,” it said.
CAPRIGHTS-VP said beneficiaries received online mentoring and follow-up support after the training, to guide them in applying the skills acquired.
It said the process continued on June 25 with a one-day Skills Fair and Mentoring Programme at Ikotun-Igando LCDA, which brought together beneficiaries of the March training and 35 new young participants from the Education Department’s Skills Acquisition Programme, with more than 106 participants in total.
According to the organisation, participants received practical mentoring on record keeping, bookkeeping, digital marketing, content creation, marketing and customer engagement.
“A skill creates an opportunity, but business knowledge can help turn that opportunity into sustainable income,” CAPRIGHTS-VP said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Judith Samuel, shared how she had started making purses with needle and thread in spite not having a sewing machine, choosing to begin with the resources available to her.
CAPRIGHTS-VP said the initiative had also been extended to other community members, with 50 members of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), St. Rita Catholic Church, Akesan, engaged in a mentoring session on Aug. 9.
It said the session focused on financial literacy, household financial management, economic decision-making and strengthening women’s capacity to contribute to resilient families.
“Children cannot be separated from the economic realities of the families and communities in which they live.
“The persistent financial pressure can increase children’s vulnerability to practices that affected their education, safety and wellbeing,” it said.
The organisation said strengthening families’ economic resilience could therefore form part of a prevention strategy that created conditions where children were more likely to remain at home, stay in school and be protected.
“Our pathway is skills acquisition, mentoring, business knowledge, financial resilience and safer childhoods,” CAPRIGHTS-VP said.
CAPRIGHTS-VP said its goal was not simply to create skilled individuals but to strengthen families so that economic hardship was less likely to push children into situations where their rights, education and wellbeing were compromised.
The programme was funded by the U.S. Department of State, with support from The Freedom Fund, and implemented by CAPRIGHTS-VP. (NAN)www,nannews.ng
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
