January 2006. L* lives together with her family in the village Muliabanka, Cuttack, a district of the Indian State of Orissa. As part of the Right Path to Education project, CIRCLE partner CLAP chose to “adopt” Muliabanka with the objective to turn it into a model village, making it child labor-free through promoting primary education.

For more than one year, L had been absent from her school in Muliabanka. Instead of going to school, she was staying home to take care of her younger brother and fetch water, clean the house, wash the clothes, and prepare food. L longed for school every day: when she saw some of the other children from the village passing by in their school dress she wished she was among them.

L's situation is typical for many children from this area. Often parents feel that their children must work because the family is poor. However, CLAP has noticed that poverty is not the real determining factor in child labor; often the parents' mindset dictates the educational destiny of their children. If the parents themselves have no or very little education, they tend not to see it as a priority for their own children. In addition, many societal perceptions in this area promote child labor as the most important part of a child's socialization and the primary means of transmitting traditionally acquired skills.

During a Children's Club in Muliabanka, CLAP came in contact with L. She became a vocal member of the Children's Club. She spoke out on her situation. CLAP was touched by her and took an interest in her case, advocating consistently for her return to school.

CLAP staff realized that the real reason why L did not attend school was that she had to take care of her brother. CLAP negotiated with her family, encouraging them to find a solution to this problem. The family remembered an elderly aunt who would be able to take care of L's little brother. L was returned to school. She continues in the Children's Club and is now happily reading in class V at Bapuji Model Primary School every day. L has become an important role model for other children. She has given them hope that if they speak their minds, they too have a chance to become educated.

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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