ILO, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Turkish Water Polo Federation join hands to end child labour through sports
At the friendly match in Trabzon, Turkish and German national water polo teams say “End Child Labour”
4 August 2022
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TRABZON – The Turkish and German national men’s water polo teams drew attention to combating child labour in a friendly match held during their training camp in Trabzon.
Athletes, joining with the children of seasonal agricultural worker families, rolled out banners “End Child Labour” before the friendly match held at the sports complex of Ortahisar Municipality of Trabzon. Said children met athletes and then watched the game.
The event was attended by Mr. İsmail Ustaoğlu, Governor of Trabzon; Fatih Göktaş, Deputy Mayor of Ortahisar; Mr. Hüseyin Aşcı, Secretary-General of the Turkish Water Polo Federation; and Mr. Nejat Kocabay, ILO Senior Programme Coordinator.
The friendly match was held as the first event organized under the cooperation protocol signed between the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and Turkish Water Polo Federation (TSF). The protocol covers, among other things, organizing water polo activities for the children of seasonal agricultural worker families.
The protocol aims to teach children how to swim in swimming courses in provinces where seasonal agricultural worker families stay during the agricultural work season, guide children to water sports in early ages, identify child talents, and promote the grooming of conscious athletes.
The cooperation further pursues, under the project “Let Everyone Learn Swimming” implemented by MoYS, the children already in child labour or under the risk of child labour learn how to swim, new athletes are recruited into water polo training in project provinces, and contributions are made to the protection and development of children. Thereby, support will be provided through sports to achieving the prevention of employing the children of seasonal agricultural worker families in agricultural work in the projects being implemented under the Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour in Turkey jointly implemented by ILO and Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS).
Under the protocol, the children of seasonal agricultural worker families will be identified and referred to the swimming courses organized at sports facilities of MoYS; they will be transported, monitored and provided with sports materials and equipment. Children participating in swimming courses will be exposed to career guidance events through involvement of national athletes, and activities intended for talent recruitment. A campaign will also be launched to increase public awareness on the role of sports in combating child labour.
Said sports activities will continue by 31 December 2023 in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Giresun, Izmir, Hatay, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Sakarya, Samsun, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon and Zonguldak.
Athletes, joining with the children of seasonal agricultural worker families, rolled out banners “End Child Labour” before the friendly match held at the sports complex of Ortahisar Municipality of Trabzon. Said children met athletes and then watched the game.
The event was attended by Mr. İsmail Ustaoğlu, Governor of Trabzon; Fatih Göktaş, Deputy Mayor of Ortahisar; Mr. Hüseyin Aşcı, Secretary-General of the Turkish Water Polo Federation; and Mr. Nejat Kocabay, ILO Senior Programme Coordinator.
The friendly match was held as the first event organized under the cooperation protocol signed between the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and Turkish Water Polo Federation (TSF). The protocol covers, among other things, organizing water polo activities for the children of seasonal agricultural worker families.
The protocol aims to teach children how to swim in swimming courses in provinces where seasonal agricultural worker families stay during the agricultural work season, guide children to water sports in early ages, identify child talents, and promote the grooming of conscious athletes.
The cooperation further pursues, under the project “Let Everyone Learn Swimming” implemented by MoYS, the children already in child labour or under the risk of child labour learn how to swim, new athletes are recruited into water polo training in project provinces, and contributions are made to the protection and development of children. Thereby, support will be provided through sports to achieving the prevention of employing the children of seasonal agricultural worker families in agricultural work in the projects being implemented under the Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour in Turkey jointly implemented by ILO and Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS).
Under the protocol, the children of seasonal agricultural worker families will be identified and referred to the swimming courses organized at sports facilities of MoYS; they will be transported, monitored and provided with sports materials and equipment. Children participating in swimming courses will be exposed to career guidance events through involvement of national athletes, and activities intended for talent recruitment. A campaign will also be launched to increase public awareness on the role of sports in combating child labour.
Said sports activities will continue by 31 December 2023 in the provinces of Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Giresun, Izmir, Hatay, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Sakarya, Samsun, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon and Zonguldak.