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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Combating Mining Child Labor Through Education in Bolivia [Closed]

ILAB Program

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking/Education Initiative

Region/Country

THE AMERICAS/Bolivia

Project Duration

September 2002 – September 2006

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY2001: USD 1,500,000

Problem to be Addressed

Children living in mining communities in Bolivia are often engaged in small-scale traditional mining, and involved in such hazardous tasks as the extraction, transport and crude processing of the mineral ore while being exposed to dynamite, mercury and other toxic and hazardous substances. Many children are unable to attend school, and those who do study in substandard learning environments with few learning materials and unmotivated teachers.

Results

The project withdrew 101 children and prevented 29 children from small-scale traditional mining in Cerro Rico de Potosi and Llallagua.

Project Objectives

Development Objective:
To contribute to the progressive elimination of child labor at Cerro Rico de Potosi and Llallagua, Bolivia through the following immediate objective:

  • Remove boys and girls who are mining laborers from mining activities through communitarian mobilization and the strengthening of the educational system.

Summary of Activities
  • Introduced bilingual and multi-level intercultural education methodologies into the formal school system;
  • Raised awareness within the population of target communities on the risks and hazards of child labor;
  • Established synergies with other institutions in order to design proposals, implement actions and co-fund investments to benefit target schools, families and children;
  • Incorporated the Alternative Youth Education Program in evening schools focusing on non-formal and technical/vocational education;
  • Chaired the Sub-Commission on mining labor within the National Commission for the Eradication of Child Labor and developed good working relationships with other participant agencies;
  • Increased capacity of public policy institutions to address the problem of child labor in mining; and
  • Leveraged cash and in-kind resources from municipal governments and parents to improve school infrastructure.

Partner Organizations

Executing Agency
CARE-Bolivia

Implementing and Collaborating Agencies
CEPROMIN; Ministries of Education, Health, Culture and Sports, and Labor and Microenterprises; the Office of the First Lady; ILO-IPEC; civil society institutions; and selected NGOs.

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843