Child Domestic Workers in Zimbabwe

9. Clubs for Child Domestic Workers

9 Clubs for Child Domestic Workers Officers of ZDAWU have been helping child domestic workers to form clubs so that they can meet regularly with other children in a similar position to theirs. The meetings have a social and recreational function, as well as an educational one. The clubs have joined other clubs of working children, sending representatives to meetings of a national organisation for working children, which is in turn affiliated to the African Movement of Working Children and Youth. The clubs provide the children with an opportunity to talk about their situation and to consider with others how to deal with problems they face. The organisation encourages the children to speak out, with some hope of being heard by people who can influence their lives. They report regularly on progress made in having their rights respected. In some countries, members of the Movement have been able to meet with government officials and influence policy.113 Apart from any influence they may have, the chance to speak out and to be heard has the effect of raising the children’s self-esteem.114 It allows some of them to break out of an attitude of passive acceptance of their situation and to work to improve it. In the clubs, the children encourage other members to speak out about the way they are treated. We saw them encouraging a member to press charges for rape. On other occasions, they have denounced the practice of children pretending that they are members of the family rather than workers, in order to save their employers from attention. Apart from teaching children about their rights as employees and as children, it is planned that the clubs will also take on an educational and training role. The groups are following the example of clubs for child domestic workers in Senegal and other countries in West Africa, which have grown into a broad movement of working children . This movement has been able to negotiate help for the children, particularly in the areas of education and training, and of better working conditions. Sometimes they have helped children in particularly stressful employment to find alternative forms of income. 91 Particularly in Zvishavane, the children are involved in active drama groups, which enable them to express their problems to the public. These groups have support from the local communities and the children are enthusiastic about the help they have received. Another message I want to convey is to thank the children of ZDAWU and Mr Chikozho [the facilitating officer] for helping other children in Zvishavane. A boy in Masvingo has learned some lessons that he wishes to pass on to other working children. I want to say some things to be known by other children who work in the house. That is, if you are not given your money, you should go to ZDAWU and report your case. If you are not satisfied with the work you do, you can stop that job. If you want another job, you can go to ZDAWU, who will look for a good job. You must know that your work should not spoil your health. Do not keep forcing yourself to spoil your life. You who work, if you see that working brings money together with trouble, you must take care of yourself and not forget the trouble. You must not use the money to get drunk, because there is a virus that kills [referring to HIV, spread by casual sex that goes with drinking]. It is, however, sometimes difficult for children to join the activities of the clubs. Child workers are not always able to get time off for the meetings. When they have very limited time off, there may be other things they want to do. If they do not live very near the meeting place, it is difficult for them to meet transport costs to attend the meetings. In some towns, it is difficult to find appropriate venues. The open is unpleasant in wet weather. Some groups have been meeting at ZDAWU offices, but these are not conducive for recreational activities . Sometimes the venues they find are open to public interference. The children need support in running their clubs. ZDAWU officers have other work to do and do not always have sufficient time to give the clubs the help they need. Where the clubs are most successful, they receive support from local communities and local business. For example, in Zvishavane, the children’s club was given a piece of land...