About the Project

Out of work and into school: our development challenge

APEC has consistently recognised the critical connection between education and economic growth. The region will not be able to sustain growth and development if a segment of its youth cannot achieve their full potential. Due to the demand within APEC to address the problem of the worst forms of child labour and the lack of educational opportunities for the poorest children in the relevant member economies, a regional initiative was launched in 2001. Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam were keen to join the initiative. The APEC Human Resources Development Working Group endorsed the project with the ILO as the executing agency and with financial support from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).

The initiative aims to increase public awareness and capacity for action in selected APEC economies on the importance of moving children out of hazardous work and into education. This is to be accomplished through alliance building at national and regional levels and engaging government authorities, employers’ and workers’ organizations, educators, civil society groups and children and families from the affected communities.