Help the NEEDY

WHO HAS NEVER SUFFERED?

Jamila Nampiima, was 14 years old when her parents died. With no means for survival, Jamila ventured into the world of House maids. Her first experience as a house maid was in Katwe. She was employed to work as a house girl under the supervision of a housewife. But one year into this venture, Nampiima was left a frustrated young girl with nothing significant to show save for the scars on her arms and legs. She explains that she sustained the scars from the merciless beatings she was subjected to, by the housewife. The housewife would always find reason to s***k her for any slight mistake she made. The mistakes ranged from burning food, to breaking plates. In addition to the beatings, Nampima's salary was subjected to a reduction by 5,000 shillings for her mistakes. Nandawula Salama, is another former child laborer. At 15-years, her boss cut her leg using a broken ceramic plate, which she had accidentally broken while washing the dishes. As if this was not enough, Salama narrates the harrowing moments she had to endure from her bosses' sons who always demanded for s*x in the absence of their mother. Jamila and Salama are part of 110 former child laborers in Makindye who have undergone a rehabilitation program to help them live meaningful lives. //Cue in: iThe madam used to beat me, burnt me# Cue out: # cut her on the leg.i// The rehabilitation program currently undertaken by Platform for Labor Action, a local non governmental organization has helped about 500 children since 2005. Lillian Mugerwa, the executive director, says most of the children who come to their offices are former child laborers who have suffered under housewives. With pressure from Platform for Labour Action and other child rights advocacy groups, Makindye division has now made it illegal for people to employ children under the age of 16. In Uganda, it is estimated that 165, 000 children are engaged in economic activities. Out of 945, 000 children orphaned by HIV/Aids, 300,000 are estimated to be working directly or indirectly in income generating or service providing activities. The international labor organization (ILO) estimates that sub-Saharan Africa ranks high on the list of regions in the world with close to 50 million children engaged in economic activities