ATLANTA (June 12, 2008) - CARE continues to combat the plight of girls engaged in hazardous and exploitative child labor. The basic and girls' education unit, through the Patsy Collins Trust Fund Initiative, a 20-year, multi-million dollar initiative made possible by a generous gift from the Priscilla Bullitt Collins' Remainder Unitrust, established the Advocacy Grants Program that focuses on advancing the educational opportunities of marginalized girls. The following country offices were selected for the Patsy Collins Trust Fund Initiative Advocacy Grants Program: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador, Indonesia, North West Balkans, Nicaragua, Serbia and Togo.
The Advocacy Grants Program provides CARE country offices with the opportunity to implement a community-driven, evidence-based advocacy initiative focused on the most pressing challenges facing the educational attainment of girls marginalized due to hazardous and exploitative child labor.
The Advocacy Grants Program will be launched globally on June 12 in conjunction with the International Labor Organization-International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor's (IPEC) World Day Against Child Labor. In support of the ILO-IPEC's efforts to bring about lasting change for the 216 million children forced into a world of work, CARE will mark this occasion with global observances in Indonesia, Tanzania, Serbia, Togo, Ghana, Mali, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and the United States supporting this year's theme "Education is the Right Response to Child Labor." CARE will work to ensure the voices of girls trapped by hazardous and exploitative child labor are heard, and will help empower girls to attain an education and unlock their full potential.
Click here to read the Patsy Collins Trust Fund Initiative Advocacy Grants Program synthesis report, "Quality Education: Unlocking the Power Within Liberated from Exploitation, Empowered to End Poverty."
Click here to read more about the Patsy Collins Trust Fund Initiative Advocacy Grants Program and highlights of CARE's activities planned for World Day Against Child Labor on June 12.
