MAEJT

African Movement of Working Children and Youths (AMWCY)

I- Introduction

The African Movement of Working Children and Youths, AMWCY, was constituted since 1994. Today, it is constituted of 64 existing associations in as many towns of 20 African countries, of about 400 grassroots groups gathering about 30 000 domestic girls, apprentices, small salesgirls, children and young people self- employed workers in streets and markets.The members of AMWCY have shown their capacity to mobilise from 40 000 to 60 000 WCY on the occasion of demonstrations they organise and for 10 years of promotion of the rights.

In 1994, its founders identified twelve priority rights to fight against the exploitation and the bad working conditions of children and formulated a programme of promotion of these rights.

From 1996, the AMWCY estimated that the promotion of rights was to be done “by materializing them”. Thus, two years later, in 1998 during their 4 th African Meeting, the participants evaluated their progress and estimated that it was effective for 8 of the 12 rights thanks to the action of associations and the support of supporting organisations.

In 2000 in Bamako (Mali ), the AMWCY noticed the continuation of this progress. It declares to the President of the Republic of Mali and Serving Chairman of ECOWAS its commitment to fight against the “worst forms” of child labour, in addition that to that, to improve the living and working conditions of all the WCY of Africa.

In 2003, in Thiès ( Senegal ), the AMWCY noticed the whole progress of the rights at 75%, appreciated well the development of income generating activities of WCY as well as the actions of fight against exploitation, the worst forms, and early exodus and child trafficking.

II- The AMWCY's objectives

1- Promotion and strengthening of their 12 rights, through concretisation and improvement of living and working conditions of WCYs

2- Strengthening of communication skills with members and Associations

3- Capacity-building in order to undertake successful Income Generating Activities (IGAs)

4- Strengthening of member Associations and animators skills

5- Development of collaboration between AWCYs and local authorities, international institutions, NGOs and other child movements

6- Organisation of AWCYs at the national level for joint activities and national programmes

7- Participation in international debates and meetings in favour of children

8- Lobbying activities

III- «Identity card» of AMWCY

Date of birth : 21 July 1994 , at Bouaké ( Côte d'Ivoire .) The WCYs from 4 countries identified the 12 priority rights and defined an action plan to promote them.

AMWCY Structure

• 47 % girls & 53 % boys - It's one of the only “ mixed (boys and girls) popular movements”!!! - In some countries and localities, some resistance and mistrust of this “mixing” has been observed.
• 73% children and 27% youths - almost 3/4 are children, the role of youths or “elders” is to support children Girls and boys who :
  • work and do not go to school
  • go to school on part time basis (double shift)
  • learn after work
  • learn a trade in a workshop, and look for educational complements (dual training)
  • go to school and work during vacation Which jobs ?
  • Apprenticeship in a workshop or training
  • Domestic work (especially girls)
  • Self Employed in trading and services : selling, shoe shining, portage, restaurant, transport, theater shows, et.
  • Manufacture and sale of products
  • Animal rearing, fishing, farming, on a family or individual scale except in Zimbabwe (big farms)

Organization : where ?

• in 64 towns or rural communities
• in 20 African countries… including 45 towns of 11 countries in West Africa

Organization: how ?

• about 400 “grassroots groups” or “clubs” bringing togethersome WCYs…
• from the same village or group of villages
• same as above, and working in the same town
• living in the same neighborhood
• in the same field of activity (workshop zones, market, bus station, etc..)
• of the same branch of activity

The MAEJT “federates” :

• grassroots groups federated into an association (AWCY)
• associations federated into a national coordination
• national associations and coordinations federated within the AMWCY

AMWCY Organization, how ?

• «African meeting» (General Assembly) meets every 3 years
• «African Commission» 1 delegate per country, it meets every year
• Several working groups: communication; technical support; program follow-up; “early migration and child trafficking”; education
• A triennial convention 2004 – 2006, bringing together AMWCY, Plan and Enda
• Enda helps the AMWCY at the regional level in program management, lobbying, communication, and training.

http://www.enda.sn/eja/