Lebanon’s new National Choir against Child Labour to perform at the Presidential Palace

Former child labourers from across Lebanon will come together in a special performance in the presence of President Michel Aoun to mark National Children’s Day and say no to child labour.

Lebanon’s brand new National Choir against Child Labour is entirely made up of children who have engaged in child labour, sometimes in its worst and most hazardous forms.

Their first performance will take place this coming Tuesday (20 March) at 11:00 am, in the presence of the President of Lebanon Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

The children have been training hard under the direction of renowned conductor and choirmaster Selim Sahab, in various locations across Lebanon, in preparation for Tuesday’s event.

Late last year, the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour teamed up with Maestro Sahab, together setting up the special choir to empower these children, and give them a voice through music.

This ILO-led initiative is also supported by the Ministry of Culture and the National Conservatory of Music. It is part of efforts to implement Lebanon’s National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Children in the Choir are enrolled in centres operated by Beyond Association, Home of Hope, and the Palestinian Women’s Association.

Watch this video on how the National Choir against Child Labour began.