A headteacher has played a crucial role in preventing a school pupil from being exploited for child labour.
Kinfegebriel Tadesse is the principal of Jajura Primary School in the Hadiya Zone, Jajura town administration, Ethiopia.
Earlier this month, he was one of dozens of headteachers, teachers and educators who were trained by Hope for Justice to spot the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking. This training proved vital when he noticed a 13-year-old schoolgirl displaying multiple indicators of exploitation.
Ashenafi Letebo, Hope for Justice’s Regional MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Officer, explained: “Kinfegebriel noticed a young girl displaying signs of poor mental health, including depression. She appeared to have a low mood and seemed visibly sad.”
Just six months prior, the girl, who we are calling Gabra*, meaning strength, was orphaned when both her parents died of natural causes. She was taken into care by a relative.
During the training that Kinfegebriel had received as part of our Hadiya Community Prevention Project, he had learned how to identify modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitative practices, as well as how to report it. He had also received safeguarding training and the role of community engagement in child protection.
This equipped him to recognise the potential signs of exploitation in Gabra’s behaviour. Kinfegebriel acted strategically and with caution. He visited Gabra’s home and found that she was being made to work long hours without breaks. She displayed signs of fear, anxiety and depression as well as poor physical health, such as fatigue. You can learn more about how to spot the signs of exploitation here.
The headteacher made multiple follow-up visits with Gabra’s relatives, educating them on the harmful effects of child labour and the ethical responsibilities of caregivers. By raising awareness during these sessions and offering guidance, Kinfegebriel successfully helped the relatives to change their approach. They acknowledged that due to their lack of awareness, they had been exploiting Gabra and they pledged to take action to improve her wellbeing.
Hope for Justice’s project officer is conducting regular follow-ups and visits with the family to ensure this is happening and that she is safe and well cared for.
Ashenafi said: “The situation improved significantly, and Gabra is now free from exploitative practices. She has been allowed to continue her education and is receiving proper care. Kinfegebriel’s timely intervention not only changed the girl’s life, but also reinforced the importance of vigilance in identifying and addressing exploitation within communities. The girl now has time to study, play with her friends, watch TV and engage with other activities. The relative recently expressed deep gratitude to Kinfegebriel for his guidance, support and life-changing intervention.
“We are deeply committed to the wellbeing and empowerment of girls like this. Access to education is transformative, and we believe that girls possess immense potential to creative positive change in their families, communities, countries and the world at large.”
Reflecting on the experience, Kinfegebriel emphasised his commitment to actively monitor both his school and the wider community for any signs of modern slavery and human trafficking.
He told our team that his deep awareness and ability to intervene effectively was due to the training Hope for Justice provided, which equipped him with the necessary skills to identify and respond when he noticed the indicators of exploitation.
Ashenafi added: “Kinfegebriel’s dedication serves as an inspiring example of how trained individuals can make a tangible impact in protecting vulnerable children.”
*Name and image changed to protect identity of the survivor
