“ I was happy to be given the materials. I would go to school every day to study.¨ Charang´s story

Charang lives with his father and his four siblings in a simple house: made of mud walls and an iron roof. The house has a sitting room and bedroom. They have a makeshift kitchen where they cook food and wash utensils. They take baths in a nearby river. Water for cooking and cleaning is fetched from a nearby stream. At night, they rely on a small torch for light. Nearby, there's a playground where Charang and his siblings play.

Currently, Charang sleeps in a neighbour's house after his circumcision, a tradition that does not allow boys to sleep in their parent's house after undergoing the ´cut´.

Charang's mother used to sell sugarcane and vegetables, while his father built houses. However, their world was shattered in 2023 when his father suffered a severe injury, leading to the heartbreaking separation of his parents. His mother, burdened with the care of their youngest child, made the difficult decision to leave, leaving Charang and his siblings in the care of their injured father. Charang often finds himself overcome with sadness, yearning for his mother´s love and affection.

Before his father's injury, life for Charang's family was relatively stable. They could afford two meals a day, thanks to the modest income earned by his parents. However, everything changed dramatically after his father's accident. With his father unable to work due to his injuries, their once-comfortable life turned into a daily struggle for survival. 

Now, they are lucky if they manage to eat one meal a day. There are times when days pass without any food on the table, leaving them hungry and malnourished. When they get sick, they buy medicine instead of going to the hospital because they can't afford it anymore. Charang's older brother used to visit their mother and bring back maize. Sadly, even this small source of support is no more, as the cost of transport is too high for his brother to visit his mother.

Charang, a determined Grade 7 student, goes to a nearby school. Attending school has been a constant struggle due to the burden of unpaid fees. Nonetheless, Charang, who enjoys reading, continues to go to school, even if it means being turned away once again. Currently, he has a fees arrears of 22.4 euros.

In a bid to support his family, Charang, who was 14 years old at the time, started selling vegetables in November 2022, along the highway and within the village. He would earn at least 1.4 euros which he would use to pay school fees. Despite warnings from neighbours urging him to go to school, he pressed on, knowing that the money he earned could make a difference to the family. 

He worked with his loyal friend who lived nearby to sell the vegetables. Life was far from easy. He found it exhausting to carry a heavy sack of vegetables in the hot sun. To make matters worse, people accused him of being a thief and would chase him away.

“Life was better before my mum left. Now life is very difficult for us.¨ Charang Narrated.

In November 2022, a complaint about children selling goods along the highway prompted action from the ICS SP mentor, who also served as a child protection volunteer at the sub-county children's office in Teso North. Upon investigation, the mentor encountered Charang and his friend working in the market. Questioning why they were not in school, Charang explained the dire financial situation his family faced, which compelled him to work to earn money for school fees. 

The mentor escalated the matter to the Department of Children's Services (DCS) for documentation, resulting in Charang and his friend spending a night in police custody.

¨Being arrested was very hard for me.¨ Charang stated as he recalled the horrific experience.

Upon release the next day, Charang's father took him home. The mentor counselled him on the dangers of child labour, and he pledged to prevent Charang from engaging in such activities again. 

Despite this intervention, Charang soon found himself selling vegetables in a different location, often accompanied by young girls who had completed primary school. He would be scared and hide a lot. Sometimes he returned home empty-handed after long days of work. Recognising the impact of the activities on his son, Charang's father urged him to prioritise education over labour. Charang finally accepted his advice and went back to school.