CMN 305- Media and Development

Final Term Paper

Educating Street Children and Children of sex workers.

Name: Limana Solaiman

I.D: 0530110

Submitted to: Jessica Tatrila

 Independent University, Bangladesh

INDEX

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………3

1.1Abstract………………………………………………………………....5

2. Literature Review………………………………………………….….6

3. Methodology ……………………………………………….………....8

3.1 FINDING TARGET AUDIENCE…………...………………………..8

3.2 SELECTING CHILDREN……………………………………………9

3.3 THE STRATEGY……………………………………………………10

3.4 APPLYING METHODS…………………………………………….11

4. APPLYING RESEARCH TO THEORY……………………...…...14

5. Conclusion………………………………………………….………...17

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1. Introduction

The work I have centered on for this project work is children of the sex workers. Before
getting into the subject it is very important for all of us to know who these sex workers
really are.
A sex worker is a person who earns money by providing sexual services. There are no
official statistics on the number of women in the sex industry in Bangladesh. As far as
children of sex workers are concerned, their living conditions and their social status
cannot be easily found in documents, statistics or reports. However, it is generally
estimated that there are around 20,000-30,000 women involved in sex work.
We are concentrating on the children of women who are said to be floating sex workers.
Sex workers commonly hide their motherhood to clients. Most of them stop breastfeeding
within a week or two of giving births.
Sex workers want children for a number of reasons:
 A woman who is not a mother is considered to be unfulfilled in her own self and
inauspicious.
 Children and especially daughters are seen as security for the future. Most of
these women strongly believe that daughters are the only kin or people they can
rely on in times of crisis.

At first I decided to work on street children. When I started working on it I realized there
are different levels of these children. Among them the children of the sex workers are the
most underprivileged. Helping these children was our main motive. So I designed a
program in ways to provide safety, shelter, stimulation of early childhood development,
non-formal and formal education (primary education), skills development, preventive
and curative healthcare, legal aide and support, awareness raising. This program would
maintain a child friendly environment, which would attract the children to attend
spontaneously. The Centre aims to persuade children for a more constructive lifestyle and
take the opportunity to shape a better life. I acknowledge that in many cases their
environment, social and economic needs, influences the choices made by the children.
So I have to handle them with care and lot of patience, love them and make them feel
special.

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1.1Abstract:

Children are the future of our country, despite of the class in society they belong to. As

conscientious citizens, it is our duty to step forward and provide an appropriate

educational system for the most vulnerable and neglected children. With this in mind we

started to analyze the current position of street children in our country. After extensive

research, we discovered that there is distinctions among these youngsters, like children of

single parents, sex workers, beggars, local drug dealers, etc. Although there are numerous

NGO’s working towards educating street children, the offspring of sex workers and local

petty drug dealers are often ignored. Our campaign is to equip this neglected faction for

certain circumstances, so that they can survive in future without following their parent’s

footsteps.

Convincing these children to pursue education was not an easy task, as some of them

tried to start with enthusiasm to make a change but eventually gave up this struggle.

Societal indifference and apathy towards children of sex workers is one of the primary

reasons for growing numbers of child sex workers, child laborers and juvenile

delinquents. Many of these children were pre-convinced by their families so as not to

trust anyone, least the NGO workers, because the parent of these young people often use

them as income tools and they consider education as a waste of valuable work hour.

Following many failures, we were successful in convincing a handful of kids to continue

our open sky teaching sessions.

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2. Literature Review

An estimated 13,000 children in Bangladesh are prey to the commercial sex industry of

the country. More than 20,000 children are born and live in the 18 registered red-light

areas of Bangladesh. Children born here live everyday life watching their mothers being

exploited and ultimately resigning themselves to the same exploitation. Small children

help their mothers in household chores and bring refreshments for their mother's clients

(Bangladesh Web).

The girl children are usually coerced into prostitution while the boy children are

involved with different crimes and anti-social activities, including drug peddling, said

local residents at Daulatdia under Goalanda upazila.1

The government project has estimates that range between 12,000 and 15,000. The actual

number of children that the street sex-workers have is difficult to estimate though it

would easily exceed 5,000 by all accounts.

''Our ultimate goal is to mainstream these children,'' says S. M. Ali Has Nain Fatme,

coordinator of the Durjoy child-care project. ''There are some programmes in different

brothels, but the children of street- based sex-workers get very little attention.''2

1
(www.newagebd.com).
2
(www.ipsnews.net)

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The denial of basic rights has not been confined solely to the sex workers; this has been

extended to their children. It is so difficult for the children of sex workers to attend

school due to the stigma attached to their mothers. "Even where we have encouraged our

children to go to school and the administration has been sensitized to accept them, the

children later drop out due to the kind of treatment they get from the teachers and the

other children in the school." 3

In the Education context, the children of sex workers suffer in multiple ways, according

to an AIF report. They are subjected to processes of social exclusion, which makes it

difficult for them to be admitted in schools. Those in schools try to keep their parentage

hidden, or suffer severe psychological humiliation at the hands of teachers and children.

The lifestyle of their mothers prevents them from being able to keep up with a normal

routine. As a result, many of these children are out of school, either because they have

never enrolled, or because they had to drop out. Due to reduced possibilities for education

and alternative vocations, many of them find themselves forced back into sex work.4

CINI ASHA has mainstreamed over 10,000 children into formal schools, both residential

and non-residential. The majority of these children are from the slums, squatter colonies,

railway platforms and red light areas.

The 'Adopt A Street Child' Programme is an attempt to provide necessary educational

support for two years to different categories of children in difficult circumstances so that

they can continue with their education and create an impact in the community they

3
(www.aifoundation.org)
4
(www.reflect-action.org).

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belong to. Sponsors for this programme can be an individual, a family or an institution.

This sponsorship should not be considered as adoption of the child, as the child

continues to live with his/her family or in an institution where he/she has been placed.

Children belonging to the high-risk group, especially street children with or without

parents and children of sex workers may need to be placed in a set up away from their

vulnerable environment, preferably in residential schools. Support for this group of

children includes school fees, boarding fees, tuition fees, uniforms and necessary

educational materials.5

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 FINDING TARGET AUDIENCE

My first step in this project was to find sex-working parents by random selection from

streets, slum areas and traffic signal points. Sampling is the process of selecting units

(e.g., people, organizations) from a population of interest so that by studying the sample

we may fairly generalize our results back to the population from which they were chosen.

A probability sampling method is any method of sampling that utilizes some form of

random selection. In order to have a random selection method, I had to set up some

procedure that assured that the different units in our population have equal probabilities

of being chosen. My study area was a different region in the Dhaka city. First, we had to

get the sampling frame organized. To accomplish this, I visited a number of slums; traffic

signal stops from various parts of the city and created a list. Then, I drew the sample by

deciding on the number of sex working parents I would like to have in the final sample. I
5
(www.cini-india.org).

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was lucky enough to find 5 people. To improve the quality of the sample and mixed the

elements thoroughly and randomly.

Then in applying the snowball sampling, in which I began by identifying someone who

meets the criteria for inclusion in my study. I asked our selected target to recommend

others who they may know who are also working parents. Snowball sampling is

especially useful when you are trying to reach populations that are inaccessible such as

sex workers who are hard to find within a specific geographical area.

3.2 SELECTING CHILDREN

I selected children between the age group of 5 to 13. During this age, children are at a

growing stage when they can learn a lot.Understanding and practice are developed at an

early age in gaining the basic knowledge and through acquiring the needed skills to

translate this information into action; skills such as decision making, value clarification,

and negotiations. As they grow they can develop their acquired knowledge according to

their unique needs and potentialities. Education is regarded important to develop every

individual to their full potential. When any child fails to acquire the basic skills needed,

he/ she fails to function as a productive, responsible member of society. When

information is shared with street children, they gain knowledge on the subject.

Knowledge helps in bringing about changes in behavior and can become the foundation

for taking appropriate measures for protecting oneself. Skills can be learnt through

demonstrations and practice. The idea is to teach skills is by providing information and

practice together. This allows children to get the facts and practice at the same time.

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3.3 THE STRATEGY

The principle strategy was using the tools of interpersonal communication with children

and their parents. By speaking to them randomly and exchanged ideas, listened to them,

engaged in different activities with them. I had to create ability and accessibility to target

group all the times and gain their trust by ensuring them this process will bring benefits

for them and their families. Once I had gained their trust it is easy to define the goals of

education and the possible outcomes in the future. I had to find convincing and

transparent ways of proving the quality of our performance. I had to show that I was

engaged in a meaningful relationship with these people, which ensures they are informed

about the operations. And beyond just proving and gauging these things, I was expected

to be able to show that it is acting on them. In other words, that it was acting positively

on what it learned about its performance and the levels of trust in which it is held — then

reporting its new actions back to its supporters. During the whole process of interaction I

kept in mind that I did not hurt their norms and beliefs. Keeping in mind their socio-

cultural context, I interacted with them giving my whole cooperation and patience.

I conducted several group discussions among parents, by stating the reasons the decision

was made to have them as our target. The specific objectives of the project are to initiate

education of their children, to increase the access to education, to change the life

condition of children through education and to empower the households of poor

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economically. I took the challenge to intervene with them because sex workers do not

enjoy social recognition, have no options to alternative life choices, and cannot exert or

practice their human rights. Therefore their children are deprived and are forced to live

their lives in the dark. It excludes these vulnerable children, from social life and

adversely affects both their own wellbeing and when multiplied by thousands and

millions, the long-term development of nations.

3.4 APPLYING METHODS

3.4.1Using video

Television, video compact discs and tapes were used during communicating with both

parents and children. They were highly effective as they provide words, images,

movement and animation in combination with audio. This combination can facilitate

reading comprehension and accelerate literacy learning. Such forms of communication

can also be entertaining and thereby motivate the target audience to watch. Television

and other audio-visual media can also provide a means by which to stimulate discussion

and critical thinking. The use of audio-visual techniques illustrated how letters and words

are formed and reinforced learning of the elements taught. The lessons were based around

subjects of interest to the target audience, including health and nutrition, financial

management and childcare. Content was designed to meet the needs and interests of the

targeted learners, so as to ensure learner interest and motivation.

3.4.2 Communicating with the parents

One of our targets included changing the mindset of sex working parents that ‘education

is a waste of time’ and that their children are well off serving their lives by selling items

on the roadsides or begging. They needed to be aware of individual benefits of raised

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self-esteem to the socio-economic benefits through education. We conducted several

discussions and aired video clips decoding the following future benefits as much as

possible:

a) Self-esteem studies on the behavioral changes involved gaining education have a

positive impact on self-confidence and self-esteem for growing children.

b) Empowerment- Children will grow up to have more control over their own learning

and knowledge development. In addition, literacy can give learners greater control over

everyday-life situations including avoiding being cheated.

c) Socio-economic development – as their children grow, they will to have a wide range

of choices in terms of education and skills-development, it can lead to greater knowledge

and skills, and can therefore permit individuals to enter into well paying jobs rather than

selling small items or begging.

d) Participation- by facilitating access to written information about socio-political

events and processes can enable people to participate more fully in such things as

community meetings, trade union activities, and national political life. Literacy also

enables people to become aware of, and exercise, their rights.

They were made to realize that education is one of the most important drivers of social

and economic development of Bangladesh. Higher levels of literacy lead to greater

economic output, higher employment levels, better health, better social structures, and

higher marks along a number of other development indicators. More specifically, the

impact of educating girls and women has been shown to result in rapid improvements in

family planning, nutrition, health, and income and is seen as one of the best tools for

promoting social and economic development.

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3.4.3 Educating Children

We applied practical methods that could be used to educate and train children.

Educational cartoon video clips to introduce a topic stimulate creative thinking along

with supplement of textbooks and lectures. Programmes were accompanied by written

material and were designed to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the target

audience. Since it is difficult to teach children who never had any kind of schooling

before, we made sure that the lessons had entertainment value, and used storytelling,

enactment, audio games, music and folklore to attract and motivate learners, and to

strengthen the learning process. Audio and video content were used to capture the

attention, make learning meaningful and fun, and more importantly, providing multi-

sensory input for different types of learners.

The common and effective teaching methods that we used were:

• group discussions

• demonstrations

• Games

• Role play

• Brainstorming.

a) Group discussion: during group discussions, the children do more talking. The

method provides an opportunity for everybody to participate during the teaching session.

b) Demonstration: a demonstration is a practical skill presented by the speaker.

Demonstrations are successful if they are followed by practice sessions for the children.

c) Games: many educational games are available which could be used to teach street

children. The critical part of an educational game is the ‘learning questions’ that come

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after the active part of the game. These questions are intended to help the children in

analyzing what they have done and in drawing important conclusions. It is important that

the games used are culturally appropriate and acceptable in your community. They

should also be appropriate to the age of the child.

d) Role play/drama: this is a method in which problems are outlined, acted out and

discussed. During role-play, the street children act out roles of certain people in real life.

The method is useful in teaching attitudes.

e) Brainstorming: brainstorming is a fast moving activity during which you gather as

many ideas as possible from the participants or street children. It stimulates street

children to generate ideas. The method is most useful at the beginning of a teaching

session.

4. APPLYING RESEARCH TO THEORY

I believe that the approach of this entire development project can be applied to the

Participatory model of communication for development.6

There are four different ways of participation that can be observed in this development

project claiming to be participatory in nature. They are:

• Participation in implementation: People are actively encouraged and mobilized to

take part in the actualization of the project. They are given certain responsibilities

and set certain tasks or required to contribute specified resources.

6
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-30910-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

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 • Participation in evaluation: Upon completion of the project, people are invited to

critique the success or failure of it.

• Participation in benefit: People take part in enjoying the fruits of the project, this

is by providing the sex workers other alternatives to employment in order to run a

smooth life, attempt to provide incentives for better living and so on.

• Participation in decision-making: People involved in this project initiate, discuss,

conceptualize and plan activities they will all do as a community. Some of this

may be related to areas such as admitting the children to schools or applying for

financial aids to firms. Other s may be more political, such as dealing with

problems related to external pressures or resisting pressures from the elites. Yet

others may be cultural or religious in nature--organizing a traditional feast,

prayers during a religious ceremony, and a big party just to have a good time.

Some development initiatives provide people with opportunities to all these four ways of

participation. Many do not, and restrict participation to one or two ways.

Most will agree that participation in decision-making is the most important form to

promote. It gives people control of their lives and environment. At the same time the

people acquire problem-solving skills and acquire full ownership of projects--two

important elements that will contribute towards securing the sustained development of

their community.

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5. Conclusion

The children of the sex workers are the least privileged children in our society. This is

because the job that their mothers are involved in is considered disrespectful in the

society in which we all live. All around us, people are trying to bring about an end to the

ever-flourishing sex industry. But unfortunately, by depriving these people access to the

society, we are pushing them towards the very thing we claim that we are fighting. If a

sex worker’s daughter is not given a place in our society, does not have the option for

earning for herself and her family in a respectable way, what options does she have

besides following her mother’s footsteps?

Educating the children of the sex workers is just our first step towards giving a platform

to these ignored people. So far we have been able to gain the trust of some sex workers

and their children. We are currently teaching some of these students. But this is only a

small percentage of sex workers. There are yet many children who suffer by being

socially excluded, being physically and sexually abused and thrown into the company of

drugs. Boys tend to become pimps once they grow up and girls continue in their mothers’

profession. Statistics show that, most girls enter the profession before the age of 12.

Unfortunately, however, we are aware that only educating these children will not give

them social recognition. The sophisticated, well-groomed and well-educated people who

dictate the terms and conditions of society are not ready to accept these children in their

world. The children of the sex workers, like their parents, are considered impure and unfit

to be a part of society.

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This is a very racist and stereotypical belief. Time is ripe to contest this belief and to

replace it with a new belief where the children of sex workers will be considered to be

human beings, where more people will come forward and welcome these children into

the society in which we live. These children should be given the right to exercise human

rights and they should be given the opportunity to choose a better life for themselves.

Therefore I wish to contribute more effort to working on a project campaign, where the

aim is create awareness among the people of all levels in society so that we can give

these underprivileged children a platform to prove themselves.

Reference-

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-30910-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

http://www.newagebd.com/

http://www.ipsnews.net/

http://www.aifoundation.org/

http://www.reflect-action.org/

http://www.cini-india.org/

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