Providing better job opportunities and future for vulnerable children

A group of children aged 15-17 years old were busy frying chips at the Vocational Training Centre (BLK) in Pasuruan District, East Java. Carefully they took out the chips, and dry them before putting them in a nice package. Meanwhile, other children were busy learning about agriculture and how to grow fruits and vegetables more efficiently at the agribusiness clinic of BLK.

These children were part of the ILO’s skills and livelihoods training programmes for older children who are dropped out children and children at risk of becoming child labourers. The programme targets children aged 15-17 years old. It is part of a global project supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which covers five countries and is aimed at improving the capacity of partners to deliver good quality training for children in this age group particularly in rural areas.

Many of the participating children have been unemployed after dropping out of school. As most of them have no choice, some of them have been involved in dangerous and insecure works. However, when they learnt that they had a chance to participate in the skills training, they are all motivated to learn and improve their life skills to help them in the future."

Fasrul Abbas, the ILO's Child Labour Programme Coordinator

Based on the assessment of the local labour market and potential opportunities, the programmes focused on life skill trainings on sewing (embroidery and batik), light meals production and agriculture in five districts: Malang, Pasuruan, Bojonegoro, Blitar and Lamongan. Working closely with two main local partners, LPKP and PARAMITRA—local NGOs dealing with children and education issues, the programme aims to enhance access to decent work for children, particularly in rural areas, who have reached the minimum age of employment.

In collaboration with the Vocational Training Centre (BLK), LPKP has facilitated the vocational training for 150 out of school children and children at risk in Malang, Pasuruan and Bojonegoro. Meanwhile, PARAMITRA has trained 120 children in Blitar and Lamongan districts using a combination of residential training and community-based training conducted at the community learning centre. It is hoped that by strengthening the capacity of the community learning centre, the sustainability of the programme could be maintained by the community themselves.

In addition to the introduction to basic technical skills, the training programmes also aim to develop life skills that can help young people as they seek to enter the workforce as well as combine with entrepreneurship training to introduce beneficiaries target to be self-employment. Using a new resource guide developed by the ILO which consists of steps required to develop a quality training programme, it is targeted 40 per cent of graduates will receive job placement or participate in a one-month apprenticeship programme at local enterprises where they can learn about running a business while preparing their own business proposals or ideas at the same time.

“Many of the participating children have been unemployed after dropping out of school. As most of them have no choice, some of them have been involved in dangerous and insecure works. However, when they learnt that they had a chance to participate in the skills training, they are all motivated to learn and improve their life skills to help them in the future,” said Fasrul Abbas, the ILO’s Child Labour Programme Coordinator.

For Wanda Eliya, a participant from Malang, her life is no longer without a choice. She now has a new dream of becoming an entrepreneur. “I am delighted as I can learn so much from this programme. I am going to be an entrepreneur, producing chips,” she said proudly. Meanwhile, Suliantono, the other participant from Malang, has decided to continue what has learnt about agribusiness. “I want to be a fruit vendor.”

These training programmes were monitored by members of the Provincial Action Committee on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. To ensure the implementation, they conducted visits to BLK and the community training centres. They observed the training processes by talking to the trainers and children for further assessment.

“The biggest concerns of the government are youth unemployment and how to ensure that dropped out children or vulnerable children have the skills that they need to enter the world of work or business world. Therefore, I strongly support the life skills training programmes and thanks to the ILO, I believe we can improve children’ employability and their potentials to reach a better future,” stated Yoyok Heri Sucipto, Head of Manpower Office in Pasuruan District.