ACE is an international cooperation NGO working toward a world without child labour, where children's rights are protected. While supporting children, families and communities involved in child labour, it also works with companies and governments to build a society that does not produce child labour.
The organization began in 1997. It was founded by five students to bring to Japan the Global March Against Child Labour, which took place in 103 countries at the call of Kailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In the cocoa-growing areas of Ghana, it helps villagers realize the dangers of child labour and the importance of education, and supports building a system in which whole villages listen to children and work to end child labour.
In recent years it has also put effort into promoting children's rights in Japan. Its website lists events and learning opportunities open to citizens, including teaching materials on chocolate and child labour, safeguarding training, and a course on empathic communication.
Key points
- Support for village-wide efforts to end child labour in Ghana's cocoa-growing areas
- Collaboration with companies and governments to change the structures that produce child labour
- Many ways to take part, including the Chocolate Fund, monthly giving and events
Why this organization deserves attention
It uses concrete teaching materials and feature articles to show how the chocolate and everyday goods around us connect to the lives of children in faraway countries. This gives readers a chance to think about what they can do as consumers.
Beyond support on the ground, its work extends to collaboration with companies and the promotion of children's rights in Japan, looking at the background that causes the problem. There are entry points both for those who want to take part lightly and for those who want to give steady support.
Editor's comment
ACE's words, "to protect the everyday things children should take for granted: playing, learning and laughing," are straightforward and memorable. Taking a moment to think of the world's children over an ordinary piece of chocolate is also an important step.
Why not start by visiting the official website to learn about child labour and look at the events you can join?