I am writing in connection to the article titled; ‘Students walk for water’ in The Morning Star.
I agree with the article, and I take pride in Vernon Secondary School’s Global Action students’ work and what we do to make a difference in communities we serve here in Canada and abroad.
I was impressed when I found out what VSS Global Action Students do to increase water accessibility for village people in Ghana, Africa.
This article reminds me of my own piece of work contributing to the understanding of what children do, and in particular when I read about Free the Children.
I was amused because this article opens up my memories about a piece of a research project I did a couple of years ago.
I am so fortunate that I am one of those who happen to know very well how Free the Children was formed because while working on my project, I read the book written by the founder of this organization (Kelburger, C. with Major, K. (2000), Free the Children, A Young Man Fights Against Child Labour and Proves that, Children can change the World, Harper Perennial, Canada).
As I have explained earlier on, it was the time that I was working on a piece of a research project about child labour. I was working on comparing factors that influenced the abolition of child labour in 19th century England and the contemporary Republic of Tanzania.
I was very excited when I started my project because I knew very well that this project would enable me to gain an understanding of child labour as natural functions indicated clearly by advantages and disadvantages; and the real reasons for historical comparison.
First and foremost, I learned the meaning of a child as defined by International Conventions and Children Act 1989.
I also learned about what is considered child labour in contrast with children working as part of their learning process to gain life skills.
Additionally, I learned that millions of children around the world, not only in England (during industrialization period) and Tanzania, have to work to support themselves and their families.
Things changed after the abolition of child labour in 19th century in England, and other developed countries including Canada, where now children work for learning and getting skills for their future lives as well as putting into practice what they are learning at schools.
But and unfortunately millions of children in Tanzania and other African countries are still hanging on the same circle. I also agree with this statement, “in many villages in Africa, women and girls walk hours under the sun to reach a water source.”
My research journey was an interesting learning opportunity and inspired me to analyze your article in different perspective, and therefore, I would like to share my learning experience about child labour. While most children in poor countries, and especially those from underprivileged families or those from villages, do excessive and harmful child work to earn a living, children in Canada and other developed countries do work for growth and development reasons.
I have been moved by this article because the VSS Global Action students are doing what they are doing to make a difference.
They also do what they are doing because it’s part of their learning process as well as putting into practice what they have been learning at school.
I also believe they are enjoying doing what they are doing.
I can tell from those photographs, especially the one of Grade 12 student Bryn Doering carrying water in the village of Asemko, in Ghana. Above all, they are all happy to take part and do it.
Therefore, congratulations to the VSS Global Action students for what they are doing and wishing them all the best.
Bertha Edward
Vernon
