Children eating lunch at school in Niger. © Anti-Slavery International.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £28,170 in 2007/08 for two projects.
Securing Freedom for Slave Children in Niger.
There are up to 43,000 people living as slaves in Niger. Masters exert total control through violence and intimidation. Born into slavery, children are taken from parents, slaves are bought and sold, nothing, including marriage is possible without the permission of the master.
Anti-Slavery International together with its local partner Timidria has founded ground breaking schools for slave children to be educated side by side with the children of masters. Using a curriculum based on equality and human rights the schools are playing a vital role in breaking the bonds of discrimination which make slavery possible. The first school year has been enormously successful with 149 children enrolled and 70% passing their end of year exams. The schools are particular proud of the fact that half of the children are girls.
Thanks to support from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation they have constructed two concrete lined wells to serve the schools and wider community. These were essential to replace the inadequate hand dug wells, which had already cost the life of a parent when the well collapsed on top of him as he attempted to clean it. They have also been able to provide vital supplies for the school pharmacy and meals from the school canteen.
Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation is also supporting training for NGOs working with migrant domestic workers. This will take place on 14th September 2008 and will focus on the use of international law to bring governments to account for violations of workers rights.