I am a sophomore in the International School of Bangkok. I am also concerned about the problem of child labor.
I think that it is wrong and not right to be sending children into the smelly and polluted streets. When I first came to Bangkok. I was in my car waiting for the traffic light. Then I saw small children in the immense heat selling some Thai flowers to a customer. But I noticed that only happens rarely. Since I came to Bangkok I have seen many homeless children who need to sell cheap Thai flowers in order to survive. People and governments of the world should think of what to do to stop this problem.
Just imagine if it was you that were in these people's shoes. You will be very confused and you wouldn't know what to do. We should all think of that. People should not see these people as useless and failures just because they are beggars.
I also send this message to the parents of children going through child labor. I think that they should think more about taking care of their children than sending them on the dirty streets.
I am from a country that is still where children are suffering from child labor. And I think that any Nation that has child labor should make it one of their major priorities. So in order to end this problem we should all fight to end this child labor problem.
Thank You
Adebambo Aderele
I am a sophomore studying at International School Bangkok. Before I moved here, to Thailand, I thought that child labor was the main concern of the world in these poor countries, but since I came here, I have seen different kinds of work that children do.
Since Bangkok is one of the most popular touring cities, many children mostly around the age of 5 to 10 sell flowers and Thai style toys to tourists. They have learned to speak Japanese, English, and some French (where most of the tourists speak those languages). I thought it was amazing how hard they were trying to get money. Their eyes were glittering like if they didn't sell their products, then they won't get food for themselves. Some even walk right in front of cars just to get their attention to sell their product.
Once, when I went to one of Thai's traditional "floating markets," a girl grabbed onto my hand not letting me go. I couldn't get her off my hand, so I just decided to follow my parents who have already started walking towards the parking lot. Their little hands were clinging onto me, I couldn't get free. I knew that I won't give her any money and she'll have to give up, but in her mind, she was probably thinking that she wouldn't give up until I give her money. We were still walking to the parking lot until there was a cop standing by the street, then the girl ran back to the floating market.
Another story I have read in the newspaper was that there are many little juvenile girls in pubs and clubs selling flowers. That means they have easy access to alcohol and can inhale lots of second hand smoke from cigarettes. I think Thai should be more careful about the consequences these kids may get from working in inappropriate ways just to earn some money.
Can there be anything to help these children so they don't have to work in these environments?
Maki Yoshioka (10)
International School Bangkok