HODI-Zambia Aims at Eradicating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing

11 April 2008

The Elimination of Child Labour in Tobacco Growing (ECLT) project is premised on three major strategies namely prevention, withdrawal and integration. Activities under the prevention strategy include the sensitization of target community groups (i.e. children, parents, teachers and traditional leaders) on the child labour problem. The key message for the project is that, by working in tobacco fields, most of these children are denied the opportunity of being in school. This consequently limits their future prospects for gainful employment. In addition, since tobacco child labour is also hazardous, working in tobacco fields entails that children may suffer certain health risks arising from their exposure tobacco.

It is against this background that HODI engaged OneWorld Africa to produce 13 radio programmes. The production period from 26th February to 7th March included both field and studio recordings. The programmes were recorded in a local language Tonga. Tonga was chosen because it is the main language used in the area.

The programmes were also produced in the local language to allow interaction with all the players in the programme; children, the local leaders, farmers, parents/guardians and HODI officials.

The programmes will be aired on Sky radio based in Monze and broadcast along the line of rail and its surrounding communities from Livingstone to Lusaka.

The programmes were recorded onsite to give the consultant a variety of voices and thus tapping various points of view of the project.

The 13 programmes highlighted activities of the project such as; , child labour prevention, withdrawal of child labourers and placement in regular schools, Provision of Secondary School Scholarships, Provision of free preschool education, Improvement and expansion of local basic school infrastructure; Provision of school teaching/learning and recreational materials, Provision of skills training and adult literacy education, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Reproductive Health Education.

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