Preventing child labor and child abandonment Abuse and exploitation can have a devastating effect on an individual child. Exploitation can keep a child out of school, in poor health and subject to physical and psychological abuse, resulting in a child being unable to reach their full potential.
UNICEF with the help of IKEA Group funding, works to prevent child labor and other forms of exploitation through the promotion of community-based services and implementation of new approaches, advocacy and communication. A key part of this project's success is the lowering of the number of abandoned children in maternity hospitals, while also improving the health and nutritional status of children.
The Romanian town of Fundulea is being transformed from a poor village to a middle-class town. Sadly, many of the disadvantaged children are being left behind in the race for prosperity.
Association Equilibre Romania has set up a day center which gives hope to these children. Without it many would end up in child labor. The center is supported by UNICEF through IKEA funding.
Cornelia and her brother Alexandru both go to the center. Cornelia walks in from the playground and proudly declares “I don’t have any bad grades in my report card!”
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