July 2005. CIRCLE partner Centro Ecumenico de Integración Pastoral (CEIPA) continues to work in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala to end the practice of children laboring in unsafe conditions, many without receiving an education. The challenge is difficult, as child labor rates in this city continue to rise with rural-to-urban migration and widespread poverty.

Local children and adolescents – current and former child laborers – are working directly with CEIPA/CIRCLE as part of the solution. They have obtained the support of both the mayor of Quetzaltenango and the Family, Women, and Childhood Commission (FWCC) to create a Concejo Municipal de Niez y Asolescencia, or Municipal Council for Children and Adolescents. CEIPA has been working alongside the children, together with the FWCC and the Department of Education, to set up guidelines: the Council will consist of 19 children and adolescents between 10 and 17 years of age, who will be elected for one-year terms. CEIPA engaged the assistance of public and private educational institutions, sports clubs, and the Organization of Child and Adolescent Workers to spread the word about the new Council and to recommend children to apply, and representatives of these partner organizations also organized the elections.

Last month, the first cadre of representatives for the new Council was elected by confidential vote. Nine girls and 10 boys, their names are Danny Manahem Cortez Hernández (17), Axel René Ávila Monzón (14), Yohana Consuelo Pérez (14), Cesar Iván Mejia Aguare (11), Gerson Emmanuel García Florián (12), Dora Alonso Quijivix (14), Maria Lujan Méndez (16), Cristian Díaz (13), Ermer Ederly Barrios (14), Eddy Estuardo Herrera (15), Maybel Jerusalén Palacios (13), Wendy Sum Maldonado (11), David Alberto Chiroy (12), Claudia Aguilar (15), Yoselin Yohana Fuentes (11), Ramiro Cinto Reinoso (10), Floridalma Guzmán Istazuy (11), Tabita Pastor (15), and Alex López (13).

Their first order-of-business for this team will be to draft an action plan; the council will work closely with the mayor of Quetzaltenango. So far, they have shown themselves to be very enthusiastic and motivated.

Funding provided by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreements E-9-K-2-0048 and E-9-K-4-0005.
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