David discovers his voice and his potential

David Quispe, 11, lives in Bolivia with his parents and nine brothers and sisters. His father is a bricklayer. To help earn family income, David and his siblings help their father in the evenings after studying.

David, who is in Grade 6, has been taking part in workshops and activities held by Save the Children’s local partner, Chasqui. David says the workshops have taught him about children’s rights. “I know we have rights such as freedom of speech and to be listened to by grown-ups.”

Topics like leadership, children’s rights and self-esteem were new to David when he began attending the workshops, but gradually he began to participate and speak out.

“My dad and my mom are very supportive of my involvement in these activities and I feel very happy,” he says. “In the evenings I help my dad in the bricklaying trade and also help to take care of the cattle. He sees that now I am very responsible, so he gives me permission to participate.”

David is a leader among his classmates and has become the top student in his grade. With Save the Children’s help, he is balancing his responsibilities with his family and his right to an education.

Children and work

In many cultures, children are expected to work alongside adults as a daily part of life. They help their parents weed crops, care for livestock, sell at the market, or perform other tasks. When a child is able to attend school and work in safe, appropriate conditions, the child may experience positive value: the opportunity to learn job skills, contribute to family income, and develop a sense of responsibility.

Save the Children strives to respect different cultural views of childhood while ensuring children’s rights are protected. Our goal is to remove the aspects of work that may harm children, and help them secure their right to safety, dignity and quality education.

Children Lead the Way is one of Save the Children’s largest programs. Primarily addressing the issue of children and work, the program supports boys and girls in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Peru, and Nicaragua to become healthy, educated, and productive citizens.