Listening to Smaller Voices - Children in an Environment of Change

Research was carried out to provide detailed primary data to understand childrens roles in the household in developing countries: how girls and boys share their work burdens with adults and how these burdens are influenced with environmental and socioeconomic change. Differences of age, gender, wealth and ethnic status are explored. The different perceptions of members of the households of the roles of girls and boys and the work they do are analysed. The majority of the research took place from March 1993 to 1994 in Sindhuli District, Nepal; further examples are presented from other ACTIONAID programmes, in Kenya, Uganda, Ecuador, Peru, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. Six recommendations are examined which could help improve the quality of life for children in developing countries: improvement of internal ACTIONAID policy regarding gender and age through better understanding of the role of children; creation of opportunities for poor people, addressing the root causes of poverty; raising awareness amongst adults of the plight of children and the involvement of children in development planning; expansion of education options; ensure better working conditions allowing health services and education at the work place; and advocating at all levels, the improvement in quality of childrens lives through supportive policy framework.