Child Labour Songs

   


“Today (Say No to child labour)”“Today (Say No to child labour)”

The power of pop music to knock down the wall of silence around child labour.

The song has been written by two Italian artists: Elena Maro (lyrics) and Maria Olivero (music).

It was presented in Milan on June 12th, 2013 during the official celebration for the World Day Against Child Labour.This is an acoustic version recorded in Los Angeles in January 2014, performed by Maria Olivero (vocals and acoustic guitar), Elena Maro (back-vocals) and Giorgio Bellossi (acoustic guitar).


“Let us try”

Song written and composed by Michael “Ibo” Cooper and Claudeen Nesbeth was commissioned by the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) as the Caribbean’s contribution to its global campaign against child labour. The song made its debut at the 5th Ministerial meeting on Children and Social Policy in the Americas, which was held in Kingston, Jamaica, October 9-13 2000.

Artists, in order of appearance:

Children’s Chorus by: The Children First School; Bushman; Lady G; Kadian; Della Manley; Sabrina; Chrisinti; Angie Angel; Angie Stewart; Swade; Keteis; Pam Hall; Everton Blender; Jah Mason; J C Lodge; LMI; Tony Rebel; Prilly Hamilton; Dwight Richards; Nazzleman.

Musicians:

Drums: Paul Kastic; Keyboards: Michael “Ibo” Cooper; Trumpet: Dwight Richards; Additional Vocals: Sajoya; Bass: Mikie Fletcher; Rhythm & Lead guitar: Rupert Bent Jnr; Trombone: Everton Pessoa

Track recorded at: Caribbean Sound Basin, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 2 October 2000.


“Enfants sans enfance”

The rap song “Enfants sans enfance” - Rapeamos por sus Derechos! Poty & Idriss – I.E.S Fortuna was composed by high school students in Madrid in the framework of the SCREAM Madrid 2003-2004 project. SCREAM (Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media) is an ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) education and social mobilization programme that empowers children and youth by equipping them with knowledge and skills to actively participate in the global campaign against child labour and bring about change in society.


“I Believe”“I Believe”

This song on child labour was produced by ILO-IPEC in Uganda in April 2009 under the Project of Support for the Preparatory Phase of the Uganda National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (SNAP Uganda).

Music and lyrics by Akiki Romeo.


“Dreaming of Freedom”

This song was composed by children from the “Dante Alighieri” Middle School, Turin (Italy) in the framework of ILO-IPEC’s “Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media” (SCREAM) programme. With the support of the Province of Turin and the Region of Piemonte, the association “Young Frontiers” has been implementing SCREAM in the region for many years. Hundreds of children and youth, from schools and the Juvenile Justice Centre of Piemonte, have been encouraged to channel their energy and creativity in support of the campaign against child labour. This song is one of the results of their work. Dreaming of Freedom, which was officially presented at the International Book Fair in Turin in 2011, sends out a resounding message that we must act now to end child labour.


"Libérez les enfants""Libérez les enfants"

The song "Libérez les enfants", composed by Daniel Beaume, was recorded in France in 1999 with the youth choir "l'Accroch' Choeur (College G. Péri, Gardanne).

This song is dedicated to all the children in the world who are forced to work in intolerable conditions. We must work together to break the vicious cycle of poverty and to ensure that all children can go to school. Young people from many countries around the world have sung this song to raise awareness on child labour. This sends out an important message that each and every one of us can get involved in the fight against child labour. By mobilizing others to take action, we can make a difference and contribute to ending this extreme violation of children's rights. We hope that many other children, young people and adults will join us in singing this song, forming thus a chain of solidarity in support of this cause. Here you will find the lyrics and the music of the song (including the instrumental version) to use in your child labour awareness raising activities.


"Enfant soldat"

This song on child soldiers “Enfant soldat”, composed by Daniel Beaume, was recorded in France in June 2009 with the youth choirs “Jeune Choeur de Lozère” and “Chorale du Collège de Châtel-Guyon.”

We hope that many other choirs, children and adults will sing this song and, by doing so, reach out to decision makers to ensure that children are at school, not at work. Here you will find the lyrics and the music of the song (including the instrumental version), together with the CD cover with information about this initiative, to use in your child labour awareness raising activities.