Remediation effectiveness study

2. Types of remediation activities

Fig. 3: Types of remediation support received by study participants in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana (%)

83

School kits, education or material support

70

Awareness raising on child labour

Wheelbarrow or farming equipment

34

Access to labour brigades

22

Health insurance support

20

Income-generating activities

17

Birth certificates

9

Vocational or skills training

7

School kits/educational or material support The most common remediation support provided was school kits or supplies, and bicycles (educational/material support), with 88% of households in Ghana and 78% in Côte d’Ivoire reporting receiving this type of assistance. These are given to children identified to be in child labour to improve school attendance. This includes the distribution of school uniforms, footwear, mathematical sets, school bags, exercise books, notebooks, and bicycles. Other material support includes the renewal and registration of children on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), as well as registration of birth certificates which are necessary for school enrolment in Côte d’Ivoire. Obtaining a birth certificate, though low-cost, is essential for school enrolment and taking primary exams, yet some farmers fail to register children due to negligence or because they don’t know this is required. Without certificates, children are kept at home and risk entering child labour. The partner cooperative assists by securing birth certificates so working children can resume schooling and sit for end-of-study exams. The inability to afford school materials remains a major hindrance to school attendance for many children of cocoa farmers. According to study respondents, providing supplies and bicycles not only increased children’s interest to attend school over engaging in farming activities but also improved school enrolment in the various communities. Respondents consistently reported positive outcomes associated with the educational and material support provided. Next to awareness raising, provision of school kits is the most cost-effective remediation intervention and highly effective in not only reducing child labour but also promoting children’s right to education.

“I used to weed people’s farms for money after which I gave the money to my mother to keep so we can buy some of my school needs, but when I received the things I didn’t have to work to buy those things anymore, so it indeed reduced child labour in my family.’’ (Female Child, Ghana)

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