Battambang province, Cambodia:

Over 3,500 parents and children assembled at Neak Banch Toek Garden for a live concert and entertainment organized by World Vision Cambodia and LICADHO to highlight child labour on May 8.

The concert also marked the launch of the two NGOs' joint report "Child Labour in Brick Factories-Cause & Consequences".   

This is the third concert in a 3 year campaign to combat the worst forms of child labour in Cambodia.  

The report revealed that harsh economic situations lead to parents sending their children to work in brick factories.  Over 70% of families surveyed in the Battambong area sent their children to work and one third did not perceive working in brick factories as a high-risk job.  

The purpose of organizing the concert was to invoke more people to protect children and to inform parents, brick factory owners and concerned people that child labour in brick factories can have major consequences to child health and development.

Through a voice audio recording, the audience heard 13 year-old Sokkong describe his situation. "I've been working in brick factories for over 2 years. I've not been in school since then. My job involves lifting clay, putting them into machines, drying bricks, loading them onto and out of kiln and firing the kiln."

"The work is very hard, and I get paid only 1,000 Riels (0.25USD) a day. I work 10 hours a day. I've experienced hand injuries, cuts on the foot by hard objects and fallen off a kiln."    
 
Mr Ray Sano, Children in Crisis Program Manager for World Vision Cambodia, explained the difficulties of ending child labour altogether.

"In the Cambodia context, we cannot completely stop children from working because work not only helps children to earn a living but to gain experience. But if that job affects the safety of our children, we need to protect."

In his opening remarks, Mr. Vann Sophath, deputy director of LICADHO proclaimed; "It is essential that parents, employers, government, UN agencies and NGOs work together to ensure that all children must attend school for the development and growth of the country."

He added "Children are the bamboo shoots who replace the bamboo stalks, we need to protect them for the future of Cambodia."

The concert brought together popular singers, comedians, and famous MC Jake Jearn (Fried Banana) to entertain the audience for 3 hours.

Mrs. Narin, 35, a woman in the audience expressed her agreement with the causes of the concert. "The concert not only entertained but also educated people to understand the consequences of children working in brick factories."

A young boy Rakvy, 13, showed his excitement by sharing a personal story.  "One of my classmates dropped out of school to work as a construction worker. I will tell his parents that it's not right to send their children to work full time and will tell them that such work can affect the health of their children. Parents should send their children to school for half-day and work half-day."

Also in the crowd was Srey Touch, 15, a factory girl worker. She said "At the concert tonight, I learned how to better protect and better prevent myself from the danger of working in brick factories. For example, I should wear safety gears like gloves, mask, eye glasses, and safety helmets".  

Afterwards an elated Vann Sophath expressed his confidence that the concert was a success. "I'm so happy now that everything followed through and that so many people came to the event," he said.