A routine inspection at a GoodWeave licensed exporter worksite in Nepal. © Nikki Thapa / GoodWeave International
EXPANDING THE OPPORTUNITIES
more than can be done to improve the system well beyond the inspection process. I find this program so mean- ingful, I’ve been taking my daughter on my visits there since she was a baby. We bring school supplies, see what they’re doing, and let the chil- dren know that we care about helping them.” “In less developed countries, young people may often need to work, due to poverty, migration, or family sepa- ration,” admits McDarrah. To monitor this delicate situation, “GoodWeave is for real. They’re professional and thorough, with a local infrastructure of people who speak the language and can talk to the worker who’s trying to support their family. Local staff does the work. Unless you’ve got these teams, it can’t be done.”
are not permitted to work in any industry considered hazardous, which includes the carpet industry. Convinced that sustainable change begins at the community level, Good- Weave runs the Child Friendly Commu- nity Program (CFC), in collaboration with MSEMVS, another not-for-profit organization striving to eliminate child labor. The CFC tests learning levels for at-risk children, focusing on their proficiency in math, reading, writing, Hindi and English. Those scoring below grade level are sent to Motivational Learning Centers, where formal educa- tion helps them catch up. CFC’s academic approaches can bring impressive results. Struggling students sometimes progress so much they qualify for government scholarship exams! “This opens a pathway to
GoodWeave is headquartered in Wash- ington DC, with locally-led affiliates in South Asia and Europe. “We don’t just identify child labor in supply chains— we offer holistic solutions,” explains Navneet Singh , Deputy Director, GoodWeave. “Our work extends into remediation, education, health, and sustained community engagement. This integrative approach restores dignity and opportunity to [those who are] most vulnerable.” In India, the legal minimum age for em- ployment is 14 years. Adolescents be- tween 14 and 18 years are allowed to work only in non-hazardous occupations. Specific regulations concern their work- ing hours and mandatory rest periods. In Nepal, children between 14 and 17
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