Building a Wider
Horizon With Labour
An attempt has been made here in illustrating the stories of home-based craft workers through a photo book. This book intends to be diff erent by drawing an insider’s views of communities who depends on craft work through photographs and illustrations, accompanied by stories. The book has been produced by Centre for Education and Communication(CEC) as part of an outcome of the project, “Sustainable solutions in the fi ght against child labour in home-based craft production”- an action research project focusing on rights of children involved in home-based craft works and promoting their best interests by ensuring quality formal education through an integrated approach by gaining the support of all stakeholders. Therefore, the stories focus more on children and their parents engaged in home-based craft work in their struggle to enjoy their childhood. The project has been implemented by Fair Trade Forum- India, Centre for Education and Communication, and Traidcraft Exchange. The project is supported by the European Union. The objective of this project is to ensure the rights and development of children working in the home-based craft sector in India. To achieve this, the project developed a model to address child labour in the home-based crafts sector rigorous consultations among stakeholders. The model got tested in the selected locations/learning centres and their supply chains in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh namely the Child Trust in Daryaganj, New Delhi and Raipura Firozabad, UP; TARA in labour Colony and Nikaun, Firozabad, UP; Conserve in Bahadurgarh, Delhi NCR; Literacy India in Bhati and Neb Sarai, New Delhi; Bharat Janta Siksha Kendra in Jaffrabad and Seelampur, New Delhi; HOPE worldwide(India) in Sangam Vihar, New Delhi; Society for Civil International in Nangloi, New Delhi; and HANDS in Shiv Nagar and Meena Nagar, Moradabad, UP. The intervention followed an action-reflection-action model. Visits to project locations were important opportunities to engage with children, home workers, supply chain actors, learning centres, producer groups, community leaders and external stakeholders. Dissemination of project experience not only are important to track the course, direction and progress of the project, but also to achieve a much wider outreach to share and refl eat on the intended impact of the project. We are publishing the photo book to appeal for refl ection of action of the project based on the realities and depicting things as they are of telling about stories of children, home-based workers, learning centres, producer groups, etc. from the craft centres. We would appreciate receiving your reflections. Zeenat Afshan, Vinayaraj V.k. and Pallavi Mansingh coordinated the exposure visits, Photo Shoot and collection of information in the project locations and the production of this book. The photo book has been prepared by the PAN-India Foundation. We acknowledge with thanks the contribution of the PAN-India Foundation team.
