Modern day slavery takes a number of forms, often perpetuated through cultural norms and legal loopholes. For instance, slavery in the 21st century often exists in the form of wage slavery. Wage slaves may well have social and political rights, but lack the economic means to exercise those rights.
Countries with child labor, legal or otherwise, are uniquely positioned to facilitate contemporary slavery. Child labor today often includes trapping entire families in wage slavery, requiring that the children work to pay off familial debts. Considering the low wages of child labor, these kids are unlikely to ever pay off the debts and escape these terrible conditions.
Over 80% of children working in the brickyards are uneducated and illiterate, ensuring that they never move beyond slavery. Without an education, their options for a sustainable life outside of the brickyards are limited. For kids growing up in the brickyards, education is their greatest hope. Unfortunately, schools in the Middle East, Asia, and other regions with child labor, are often expensive or are located far from the brickyards. Therefore, even kids with the means and desire to get an education may be blocked by physical and economic barriers.
We are actively opening new schools as frequently as possible within the brickyards to provide access to education for as many children as possible. Our schools offer a K-5th grade public school education that focuses on reading and writing. With each school we open we have new opportunities to reach more families, educate more kids, and employ new teachers.
Young women in the brickyards are particularly vulnerable to abuse, violence, persecution, and trafficking. With that in mind, we have begun opening all-girls trade schools to provide a safe, practical educational opportunity for young women to find a path out of the brickyards.