CHILD LABOUR: A child's potential is lost when they are forced to work long hours in intolerable conditions. Plan helps children escape child labour and build a new future through education and training.

Here is an example of a Plan-funded support program that helps children who work as child labourers in India.

"This is a relief from the day.s grind, and something one can look forward to. It is also interesting to see others and talk and forget one.s worries. I look forward to learn more about the society, development, and maybe to pick up some skills that can stand me in good stead." Santoshi, 10, India.

Santoshi, 10, is from a poor family in India and to help them survive, he must work as a child labourer. But Plan is helping improve the lives of children like Santoshi by funding a Child Labour Centre that provides support, education and skills training.

While the majority of the world.s children do some work such as household chores or an after-school job, globally about 390 million children are forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions for little or no pay. In India, millions of children must work in fields, on construction sites and in factories. Such work can be extremely damaging both emotionally and physically and leaves little or no time for play or school.

Children like Santoshi end up as child labourers because their families need the few extra rupees they earn just to survive. They cannot afford to send their children to school. Some poor parents also sell their children into bonded labour to repay a loan. These children work long hours until the debt is repaid . this often takes many years. One year of work equals 1500 rupees of a debt (about $50).

Plan helps children escape from child labour by providing their families with microfinance loans so their children no longer have to work such long hours. The family uses the loan to start a small roadside stall selling everyday goods like soap, rice and flour. Or a loan of $20 can buy a goat and several chickens. The family can then earn extra money by selling the milk and eggs.

Plan also funds night schools for rural children who can no longer attend school because they must work in the fields to help support their family. A school bridging course funded by Plan, also helps children aged 6 to 12 years return to regular school. These children, who have either dropped out or never gone to school, attend a four-month course that prepares them for entry into the public school system.

When their schooling is finished, older children can study to work as nurses, waiters, or they can gain trade skills to work as carpenters through Plan.s Livelihood Advancement and Business Skills program. By attending night schools, these children increase their employment options. Neetu, 18, from Sangam Vihar is now fulfilling her dream and is studying to become a nurse.

In India, girls often have their education cut short because their families need them to help out at home or to work in the fields. At Girl Learning Centres, girls attend classes in nutrition, health, reading and writing and craft such as sewing, fashion design, knitting, and basket weaving. The items made are then sold in local markets.

While children of poor families play an important part in doing chores to help their families survive, a child.s right to education, health and recreation must be respected through keeping these work obligations to a minimum.

Plan's child labour-support projects such as those described above are funded by donations and partly from child sponsorships.