Ecuador

On June 12, 2021, Partners of the Americas (Partners) commemorated the World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL), as well as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. This is a year in which we are called to not lower our guard on our fight, but instead, to increase our efforts to prevent and eradicate child labor, especially given the increased threat that the COVID-19 pandemic poses on vulnerable families and communities. 

Partners of the Americas (Partners) welcomes Pan American Day on April 14, 2021. This year, we celebrate the 131 years since nations throughout the Americas have formally come together to inspire collaboration and progress as well as encourage mutual understanding of peoples from all nations.

Anna details her impactful experience as one of many students from the University of Louisville who traveled to Ecuador in March 2020 as a part of the Kentucky-Ecuador Chapter’s study abroad program in Ecuador. The students visited seven schools in five days, where they provided fluoride varnish to improve children's dental health and taught English. All 10 students who participated are now Kentucky-Ecuador Chapter members. 

Según cifras oficiales, Colombia ha afrontado con relativo éxito el combate al trabajo infantil. En la última medición sobre trabajo infantil hecha por el Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística – DANE (trimestre móvil Octubre – Diciembre 2019) las cifras dan cuenta de una leve disminución en la tasa de trabajo infantil y en el número de niños, niñas y adolescentes (NNA) que participan en el mercado laboral al pasar de una tasa del 5.9% en 2018 al 5.4% en 2019.

As a crisis that heavily impacts vulnerable populations, the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could push millions of vulnerable children into child labor. Today on World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) Partners of the Americas commemorates its dedication to preventing child labor in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our Child Protection Unit (CPU) continues its efforts to combat child labor in the region while tackling the unique problems that COVID-19 has created.  

Partners has accomplished a lot in 2019, thanks to all of our supporters and members! We have compiled our top 2019 highlights from each of the four units: the Education and Global Citizenship Unit, the Economic Development and Health Unit, the Child Protection Unit, and the Membership Unit. We are excited for all of the life-changing partnerships to come in 2020.

In commemoration of International Youth Day, Partners of the Americas is proud to support the United Nations in celebrating the power of youth as agents of change. This year’s theme is “Transforming Education,” centering on making education more inclusive and accessible for all youth. 

Today, Partners of the Americas commemorates World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) by recognizing the power of adequate skills training to combat youth unemployment. This year, WYSD centers on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all under Sustainable Development Goal 4. At Partners, we work toward this goal by teaching youth marketable skills and emphasizing the importance of education to transform lives around the world.

Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams. Yet one in 19 children is engaged in child labor in the Americas, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This year, Partners of the Americas commemorates World Day Against Child Labor by striving for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7, which calls for an end to all child labor by 2025.