The Nepal RUGMARK Foundation has been advocating for the Rights of the Child and Elimination of Child Labour, Nationally and Internationally. The Foundation believes that awareness, advocacy and concrete programmes should be launched side by side, for effective control and in longer run, elimination of a Social Problem like Child Labour. Awareness Programmes among the under-privileged, without giving viable solutions and alternatives could even be counter-productive in long run. Therefore, besides the above-mentioned programmes that help a lot in terms of creating awareness and advocacy, the Foundation has been carrying out a number of activities meant for creation of awareness and advocacy on Child Labour. They are publication and distribution of printed materials (Bulletins, Brochures, Posters Calendars and stickers), production and airing of Documentary Film, participation in National and International Fairs, meeting, exhibitions and conferences, and finally conducting of Consultative / Interaction programmes and Workshops of its own. The Nepal RUGMARK Foundation also has its own website (www.nepalrugmark.org), which is upgraded from time to time.

Though the number of factories under RUGMARK License is continuously increasing in Nepal, but the rate of encountering Child Labourers in these factories has rather decreased. However, it is also a fact that many young children of carpet workers are prone to becoming Child Labourers in future or will not really be getting educational opportunities. Parents are not paid a minimum wage in general, therefore, they are unable to send their children to school. Of course, lack of money is not always the only factor that stops parents to send their children to school, other factors like lack of awareness about value of education, parent’s and/or children’s lack of motivation of schooling, etc. also play an important roles.

Therefore, in this back background Nepal RUGMARK Foundation has started some Social Preventive programmes in the carpet factories, which will play a preventive role in eradication of child labour from the carpet industry as well as will be helpful in doing the advocacy work in the carpet industry. These programmes are:

(1) Sponsorship for Schooling of Carpet Workers’ Children,
(2) Day Care & Education Centres, and
(3) Awareness Programme for Carpet Workers and their families.