GMD-UEW Hosts Awareness Programme to End Child Labour
The Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has marked the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour with a transformative outreach programme.
The event, held at Methodist A/C Junior High School in Winneba, rallied students, educators and stakeholders to fight against child labour and promote children's rights to education, protection and dignity.
Held under the global theme “Let’s Act on Our Commitment to End Child Labour,” the event featured thought-provoking presentations, inspirational speeches and interactive dialogue sessions aimed at empowering students to recognise their potential as future leaders and understand the critical implications of child labour on their development and society at large.
Delivering the opening remarks, Ms. Patricia Kaitoo, Acting Director of GMD, emphasised the urgency of collective action. “Each year, the World Day Against Child Labour reminds us of the overwhelming need to protect children from being forced into work that robs them of their education, freedom and even their childhood. Girls, in particular, often bear a double burden and are more vulnerable to exploitation. Ending child labour and promoting gender equality must go hand in hand,” she said.
Ms. Patricia Kaitoo advised students not to confuse child labour with responsible domestic support at home. “Helping your mother sweep or assisting at the market before or after school is not child labour. But missing school to work at the expense of your education—that is child labour,” she clarified.
The keynote presenter, Prof. David Zuure, Director of the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies (CHRAPS) at UEW, delivered an engaging session that inspired students to see themselves as leaders with boundless potential.
“Say it as if you mean it; I am a leader!” Prof. Zuure urged the students, reinforcing the message that leadership is not reserved for the elite or privileged but is attainable by all. “You are the ones Ghana, Africa and the world are waiting for. The fight against child labour is not for children alone—it is a responsibility for all of us.”
Prof. Zuure illustrated the dangers of child labour with vivid examples, explaining its harmful impact on children’s physical health, emotional well-being, educational attainment and social integration. He emphasised that child labour is any work that interferes with a child’s education, health or development and is a violation of their fundamental human rights. “Child labour can result in injuries, trauma, drug addiction and even death. It can rob children of their dreams before they ever take flight,” he warned.
Prof. Zuure also encouraged students to be vigilant and vocal in combating child labour in their communities. “Speak up. Share what you have learned. Report any form of exploitation. Be the voice for those who cannot speak,” he urged.
Complementing the academic discourse with practical context, Mrs. Karen Eyram Okoro, Assistant Registrar at GMD-UEW, distinguished between traditional informal learning and the necessity of formal education in today’s technologically advanced world.
“In the past, people learned trades informally. Today, the world has changed. You need formal education to understand technology, artificial intelligence and innovation. Education is what will make you great,” she declared.
Mad. Dorothy Awotwe-Pratt, Headmistress of the host school, expressed heartfelt appreciation to UEW. “We are deeply grateful. Our doors are always open to UEW for future engagements. Today’s programme has opened our children’s minds and given them the courage to speak about their struggles,” she noted.
The event reaffirmed UEW’s commitment to educational empowerment, children’s rights, and gender equity—solidifying the university’s role as a catalyst for positive social transformation in Ghana and beyond.
