a woman wearing hijab in a radio station

Child labour

A voice for the voiceless to end child labour

For many in the Bangsamoro region in the Philippines, childhood is not about play but survival in agricultural fields and conflict zones, which a young woman is determined to break.

28 November 2025

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (ILO News) - In communities affected by poverty and armed conflict, childhood often means survival. Displacement and violence force children to work in armed conflict and agriculture.

This was the reality for Sophia Moson Abdullah’s family as she recalled her father’s struggle. “My father was a child labourer,” she shares. “He worked in agriculture and even in armed conflict at a very young age.” His childhood was marked by hardship and danger. I don’t want my future children or any child to experience the same suffering.”

Her father’s sacrifices shaped her path. Determined to break the cycle, her family moved to Cotabato City for them to study. That decision planted the seed of Sophia’s advocacy against child labour.

The International Labour Organization introduced the Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media (SCREAM) in her community. Becoming a Master Trainer on SCREAM was unexpected for Sophia.

A student leader at the time, Sophia stepped in when a fellow student was unable to join. “I grabbed the opportunity,” she says. “For me, it was a chance to learn something new and do something meaningful, not just for myself, but for my community.”

Through the ILO’s Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in Support of Education (ARISE) Project, funded by the Government of Japan, communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao learned more about child labour.

“SCREAM was the door that opened everything for me,” she explains. “I learned the difference between child labour and child work, and the complexities behind it. It’s not just about labeling children. It’s about understanding their situation and finding solutions.”

a female teacher wearing a hijab — Sophia, a college instructor, teaches her students about child labour.

Sophia, just barely a year after, wears many hats. At 23, she is a college instructor, a community mobilizer in a dumpsite, and field reporter for a local radio station. In every role, she uses her voice to amplify the fight against child labour.

Sophia asked her students to research on child labour. “I wanted them to realize how lucky they are to be studying,” she explains. “While some children are in classrooms, others are working in dangerous conditions.” For Sophia, education and awareness are crucial.

college instructor wearing hijab with her students — Sophia engages with her students using the ILO's Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media or SCREAM.

“Mainstreaming SCREAM into education, including the Alternative Learning System helps make the Bangsamoro region more child labour-sensitive, empower learners and educators to identify, prevent, and act against child labour. This is how education becomes a pathway to protection and opportunity,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.

Sophia’s SCREAM training further taught her to harness media for advocacy. “Social media, radio, television are powerful tools,” she says. As a radio field reporter, she uses every opportunity to talk about child labour. “Whenever I’m on air, I make sure to raise awareness,” she adds.

Her efforts extend online, where she creates reels and shares her journey to inspire others. Looking ahead, her vision is bold and long-term. “I plan to stay committed until child labour is eliminated - not just in BARMM, in the Philippines, but worldwide. We as youth are the hope of the nation. Be the voice of those kids who are voiceless.”