Limerick-based man takes on major run across county to raise awareness on child labour
The initiative has also recently delivered its Exam Access Fund, helping cover final-year examination fees for students from low-income communities in Nigeria
NON-PROFIT founder and child rights advocate Segun Oriowo is set to undertake a 260-kilometre running challenge across Limerick in aid of a very special cause.
The challenge will take place from September 4 to 30, with Limerick-based Segun highlighting the importance of protecting children from exploitation and child labour while hoping to raise funds and awareness for such.
Organised through Not The Kids (NTK), a child-focused initiative founded by Segun, he will use running as a platform to engage communities, draw attention to the global issue of child labour and the importance of creating safe, meaningful opportunities for children.
Funds raised through the campaign will support the operations of Limerick Christian School and also support Compassion Ireland, whose programmes help support children living in poverty. Their work includes areas such as education, health, nutrition and vocational development, among others.
The 260km challenge forms part of NTK’s wider prevention philosophy.
The initiative believes that tackling child labour requires more than enforcement after exploitation has occurred. It is their view that this also requires addressing the conditions that make children vulnerable to exploitation, including poverty, limited educational opportunities and lack of access to safe developmental pathways.
As part of this approach, the NTK Initiative has recently delivered its Exam Access Fund, helping cover final-year examination fees for students from low-income communities in Nigeria.
The initiative was designed to remove a financial barrier that could prevent young people from completing an important stage of their education. This is part of NTK's wider belief that education access can be an important component of child-labour prevention.