The Executive Director for Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing (ECLT) Foundation, David Hammond, commended community members in the area of Village Head Mpamila in Ntchisi for their support and commitment towards protecting children from child labour in tobacco estates.
Hammond made these remarks in Ntchisi during a familiarization tour of Eliminating Child Labour Elimination Actions for Real Change (CLEAR) Project phase 2 which his organization is funding. The goal of the project is to contribute to the elimination of hazardous child labour in tobacco growing areas in Malawi within the context of the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour in Malawi, as well as the Malawi Conference Outcome Document and Framework of Action, and the Prohibition of Hazardous Work for Children Order, 201 2 and Employment Act CAP 55: 0.
In his remarks, Hammond described the commitment which communities have as necessary to development and urged them to ensure that the interventions are sustained in the communities. Hammond further stated that communities have the power to bring about positive change in their areas and acknowledged various
Speaking on behalf of Executive Directors of other implementing partners, the Executive Director for YONECO, MacBain Mkandawire, thanked ECLT for supporting CLEAR Project which he said has necessary tools for protecting children from hazardous work and child labour. Mkandawire further stated that CLEAR project interventions have positively contributed towards improved health and welfare of children in the targeted impact areas. The project has also contributed to an increase in primary school enrollment rate in the project’s impact areas.
CLEAR Project Phase 2 is being implemented by a consortium of three partners namely; Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO), Total Land Care (TLC) and Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM). The project is being implemented in Rumphi, Ntchisi and Mchinji districts.
Among other things, the project supports national policy efforts on child labour in line with the 2012 Malawi Conference Outcome Document and Framework for Action; supporting and advancing district advocacy and coordination to translate national policy into tangible benefits for children in line with the 2012 Malawi Conference agreements; supporting the expansion of decent work for children 1 6- 1 7 years old, and policy and advocacy activities addressing hazardous child labour in tobacco; and implementing and supporting child labour prevention, withdrawal, and protection activities (5-1 5 years) in tobacco growing areas.
