WCPRC - Barnens Värld, Childrens World - EN
  
WCPRC

/ WCPRC / Laureates / Paul & Mercy Baskar, India
The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child 2004:
Paul & Mercy Baskar
portrait Mercy and Paul Baskar
There are approximately 250 million child labourers in the world. Of them, at least 14 million – perhaps as many as 50 million – are in India. Paul and Mercy Baskar and their organisation, the Peace Trust, want to change that. Children should not work!

> Meet Paul and Mercy
Why have Paul and Mercy been awarded?
Paul and Mercy Baskar have received The World’s Children’s Honorary Award 2004 because they have been fighting child labour for twenty years. They have liberated some 6,000 children from factory work. The children get education, support training and money for their school expenses. Children and adults are taught how dangerous it is for children to work, and how it threatens the environment. Parents get help getting work of their own, so that they can afford to keep their children in school. 
   Paul, Mercy and the Peace Trust start children’s rights groups. They try to pressure factory owners into not employing children; they demand that politicians see that the ban on child labour is enforced; and they organise demonstrations against child labour.
Portrait indian goddess Lakshmi
In India, people celebrate many holidays, most of which are consecrated to one god or another. One of the most important holidays is Diwali, which is celebrated to welcome the godess of riches, Lakshmi.

> Diwali for good luck and riches
portrait Kanimoli

One day when Kanimoli came home from school, she sensed that something wasn’t right, her mum’s eyes were so serious. This was to be the day that would change Kanimoli’s life. But it’s she herself who made the decision – for her family’s sake.

> Meet Kanimoli


portrait Suresh
One night Suresh woke up when a mosquito bit him. He heard voices from the next room, his mum and dad speaking in low, serious voices:
   ‘We must borrow money…we can hardly afford food anymore,’ said Suresh’s dad...

> Meet Suresh



portrait Vasanthi
When Vasanthi was 11, she loved going to school. But when her father was run over and killed, she had to quit school and begin working. When she entered the spinning mill for the first time, it was as if her life was over.

> Meet Vasanthi
Contact us

Site accessibility

Tip a friend

Change language:
English
Español
Français
Português
Svenska
ไทย
Tamil
Hindi
Việt
Copyright © The World's Children's Prize for
the Rights of the Child