In the dusty heat of a Cambodian brick factory, 11-year-old Keota once spent her days lifting heavy clay bricks, her small hands blistered, her feet bruised. The air was thick with ash, making it hard to breathe. Her childhood — like the bricks she carried — was weighed down by hardship.
“I had no time to play,” Keota recalled. “And I was a weak student because I was always so tired.”
Keota’s story is tragically common. Around the world, an estimated 160 million children are engaged in child labour — many in hazardous conditions that rob them of their health, safety, and education. For families living in poverty, the choice often feels impossible: send children to work or go without food.
Keota’s parents, both brick factory workers, were doing their best to survive. But the burden fell on their eldest daughter to help supplement the family’s income. After school, Keota would head straight to the factory, where she worked until nightfall. Her dreams of learning faded under the weight of exhaustion.
“I thought that to avoid working in the brick factory, I have to study hard,” she said. “But I had no energy to focus on studying because I worked so hard, and it was exhausting.”
A Turning Point
Everything changed the day World Vision staff visited the factory. They spoke with the children, listened to their stories, and asked about their hopes. For Keota, it was the first time someone had asked what she wanted.
“I was interested in the many questions they asked, especially when they asked about education,” she said. “I wanted to study so much.”
World Vision’s intervention was swift and life-changing. Keota was enrolled in a local drop-in center where she received tutoring, hygiene education, and emotional support. She was given a bicycle to get to school, a backpack, school supplies, and clean clothes. Most importantly, she was given a chance.
“I learned how to read and write, how to calculate, and how to choose good food to eat,” she said. “I was so cared for and loved by all the people at the center.”
World Vision also worked closely with Keota’s parents, helping them understand the dangers of child labour and the long-term value of education. With their support, Keota was no longer sent to the factory. Instead, she was encouraged to study, care for her younger siblings, and dream.
A New Chapter
Today, Keota is thriving. She’s an outstanding student, a role model to her sisters, and a beacon of hope in her community. Her parents now smile when they see her reading, and they’ve become advocates for education themselves.
“My mother says she will not let me give up school,” Keota shared. “She supports me, and I will study hard. I want my dream to come true. I dream to be a cosmetician.”
Keota’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in children — not just with resources, but with belief in their potential.
This summer, as we observe the World Day Against Child Labour, we are reminded that behind every statistic is a child like Keota — full of potential, waiting for a chance.
Child labour is not just a violation of rights; it’s a barrier to progress. It perpetuates cycles of poverty, denies children their education, and undermines the future of entire communities.
But there is hope. With your support, we can reach more children like Keota and help them trade bricks for books, hardship for hope.
How You Can Help This Summer:
Donate today: Your gift helps us reach vulnerable children with urgent support and long-term solutions.
Raise your voice: Advocate for policies that protect children from exploitation and ensure access to quality education.
Together, we can break the cycle of child labour — one child, one family, one future at a time.