Uniting to end child labour: Keep the pinwheel moving!

The pinwheel has become the symbol of the fight against child labour, and the movement of the pinwheel itself is the message we want to convey. The five blades of the pinwheel represent the different continents of the world and the wind that makes the pinwheel spin is the will to act and to pass on the message until all countries take adequate measures to end child labour.

The pinwheel campaign began in Brazil, with a National March for the Eradication of Child. Former working children and adolescents elaborated a Term of Agreement to eradicate child labour which was presented to all Brazilian states and to the Federal District by children who travelled to hand it to the next neighbouring state. The Agreement was signed by the 27 governors and by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who committed to prioritise the eradication of child labour in the country. Throughout the march, the children brandished pinwheels which became the symbol of their campaign.

Since then, other countries have followed with similar initiatives, and the pinwheel campaign has travelled from state to state and from country to country.

Get involved in your country! Be creative! Motivate your school and your community to join you in taking action!

Download the Pinwheel kit to make your own pinwheel and become part of the global campaign to end child labour.