Global Fund for Children recognizes two grassroots organizations boldly fighting child labor, trafficking, and slavery.

April 28, 2020 – WASHINGTON, DC and LONDON – Global Fund for Children announces the winners of its 2020 Prix du courage Juliette Gimon today, recognizing innovative grassroots organizations Avani in India and Des hauteurs difficiles in Ghana for work to advance children’s rights despite extreme challenges.

On opposite sides of the world, both winning organizations are led by survivors of forced child labor and modern slavery, who have dedicated their careers to protecting other young people from the same injustices.

Anuradha Bhosale, vice-chair of Avani and founder of Avani’s Children’s Projects, was forced into domestic labor herself at the age of 6. Now a recognized grassroots activist, she and Avani’s staff work fearlessly to end child exploitation in Kolhapur, India and beyond.

Il y a plus de 10 millions d'enfants travailleurs in India, and more than 35,000 children work in brickyards and other industries in the district of Kolhapur alone. Surrounded by dangerous working conditions and death threats from employers of child labor, Avani rescues children from Kolhapur’s brickyards and sugarcane farms and coordinates their comprehensive rehabilitation – providing them with safe shelter, food, education, and more.

“This award affirms that the plight of countless children being rescued from child labor, trafficking, and early marriage has now been brought to light,” Bhosale said.

[image_caption caption=”À Kolhapur, en Inde, Avani propose une gamme de programmes pour les enfants travailleurs et les enfants menacés d’exploitation. © Scott Kafora / Avani” float=””]
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James Kofi Annan, founder and president of Challenging Heights, was trafficked to Lake Volta when he was 6 years old, spending seven years there in modern slavery. Now an international advisor on child rights, he and the Challenging Heights team are determined to end child trafficking in Ghana.

Over 1.8 million young people are engaged in child labor in Ghana, and 20,000 of them are children trafficked into modern slavery in Lake Volta’s fishing industry. At great personal peril, Challenging Heights staff and volunteers rescue children from slavery and provide them with comprehensive rehabilitation services. The organization works extensively with families of former child slaves to ensure that they can safely and permanently reintegrate into their communities.

“For me, courage is the willingness to confront injustice for the good of our common humanity, harnessing our impacts for our continued progress,” Annan said.

[image_caption caption=”In Ghana’s underserved coastal communities, Challenging Heights is dedicated to ending child trafficking and advancing children’s rights. © Challenging Heights” float=””]
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Le Fonds mondial pour les enfants décerne chaque année les prix Courage Awards par le biais du Fonds Juliette Gimon pour un leadership courageux – a more than $1 million endowment made possible by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and other donors – in honor of Juliette Gimon.

Ancienne présidente du conseil d’administration du Fonds mondial pour les enfants, Juliette est décédée le 24 février 2018. Sa sagesse, ses idées et sa profonde préoccupation pour les enfants ont contribué à façonner le Fonds mondial pour les enfants, changeant ainsi la vie de centaines de milliers de jeunes à travers le monde.

“We’re thrilled to recognize Avani and Challenging Heights for the courage they demonstrate in their work to end child trafficking and forced labor in their communities,” said John Hecklinger, President and CEO of Global Fund for Children. “Their dedication honors Juliette Gimon’s legacy and her work to inspire positive change for children around the world.”

Avani and Challenging Heights were selected for their courageous work from among 14 finalistes du prix that have confronted death threats, defied the Taliban to operate secret girls’ schools, and helped children with disabilities climb mountains. The winners have channeled adversity into their causes, boldly pursuing justice for children worldwide.

À propos du Fonds mondial pour l'enfance et du Global Fund for Children UK Trust

Global Fund for Children partners to build a world where all children and youth enjoy equal resources and opportunities in society and live free from violence, discrimination, and exploitation. To that end, GFC invests in innovative local organizations, helping them deepen their impact and build their capacity for social change. Together, GFC and its partners advance the rights of children and youth facing poverty and injustice and equip them with the tools and skills to reach their full potential. Since 1997, Global Fund for Children has invested $44 million in more than 700 organizations, reaching more than 11 million children and youth worldwide. For more information, visit www.globalfundforchildren.org.

Contact Presse

Nina Ford
Responsable des communications et des médias numériques
nford@globalfundforchildren.org
+1 202.869.3854