Kanti dreams of becoming a teacher when she grows up. |
Kanti came from a violent family. Her parents sent Kanti and her sister to work in a carpet factory when she was 11. The two lived in what Kanti could only describe as a small, dirty room. Her routine started each day at 5 a.m. when she began work on an empty stomach. At 10 a.m., she could return to her sleeping quarters for no longer than 30 minutes to consume a small bowl of rice and curry. Then she was expected to return to her duties of carpet weaving until late into the evening. If she was efficient, she could return to her room by 10 p.m. with another bowl of rice and curry to suppress her hunger for the night. Kanti worked six days a week, earning the equivalent of $8 USD per month. She constantly feared the scolding she received for not weaving fast enough. Hope for Kanti’s future began when she was saved from the factory during a routine inspection held by RugMark. She was then enrolled in a RugMark rehabilitation center where she is pursuing an education in a safe environment. |
A Rugmark teacher observes a former child laborer writing on the chalkboard. |
Khadka, now 15, went to work in a carpet factory to support his mother and sister. He was physically and psychologically abused by the factory owner. In January 2003, RugMark rescued Khadka after three months of illegal child labor. He said, "The teachers and caretakers [at the RugMark rehabilitation center] love me as my mother. I am extremely indebted to the RugMark Foundation for its kind and protective support in my dismal days." |
| Once rescued, all child laborers suffer from trauma they must overcome. Therefore, RugMark rehabilitation centers are equipped to provide psychological support. The centers also offer regular meals, education facilities and playgrounds for some much needed fun. RugMark staff members work to regain the children’s trust in adults and encourage them to rediscover their childhood. |
Shital Khanal (foreground), 50, has been working in this Rugmark-certified factory for three years. |
Dhan Maya Tamang wears a mask to prevent inhaling the carpet fibers. |
Kumari Lama (right) has worked in the factory for a year with her husband. |
As the consumer demand for RugMark certification grows, so does the promise
of a hopeful Nepalese generation. |
Tshering, a former child laborer, received training to become a mechanic through Rugmark's vocational program. |
Tshering, now 17, was rescued in October 2003. He took full advantage of the benefits that RugMark has to offer former child laborers. After completing mechanic training, RugMark found him a job in a motorcycle workshop. Before his rescue, Tshering was uneducated with little prospect of a hopeful future. Now, he strives to provide for his family as a master mechanic. He says that education allows former child laborers the ability to have a brighter future. |
Through the support of consumers, RugMark’s mission to end child labor in Nepal, India and Pakistan will succeed. Select US companies import 100 percent of their carpets from RugMark-certified factories, providing a socially responsible option for interior design. Through the sale
of each certified carpet, a portion is invested into RugMark programs.
RugMark is winning the battle to end child labor in Nepal; it currently inspects 506 manufacturers, representing 70 percent of Nepal's carpet exports. As the consumer demand for RugMark certification grows, so does the promise of a hopeful Nepalese generation. By bringing a sense of accountability into the business equation, each purchase of a RugMark-certified, hand-woven rug keeps a handful of children off the loom and in the classroom. |
Barati plays with his friends on the Rugmark playground. |
| |
Rugmark USA
2001 S Street NW
Suite 430
Washington, DC 20009
USA
202.234.9050
info@rugmark.org
www.rugmark.org |
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