Ending Child Slavery in the Carpet Industry Photo Gallery
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Meet Manju
Manju was only 5 years-old when she first started weaving carpets. Considered part of the Balai caste in India, she was forced to work without food, breaks or wages until she was rescued. Today, evidence of her indentured servitude can be seen on her hands. They are scarred from the sharp knives used to cut yarn and do not straighten due to osteoarthritis, a condition typically afflicting the elderly not a 7 year-old child.
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In Her Words
Eleven year-old Asha is a former child weaver from India. She speaks beyond her years and told RugMark in the summer of 2007: “tell them, everyone in the world, not to buy goods made by children. This is the way it [child labor] can be abolished.”
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Sunita's Smile
Sunita’s innocent smile belies a tragic yet all too common tale. Like other victims of debt bondage, Sunita was sold to a thekedar (broker) for the equivalent of $2.50. She was then made to work 18 hours-a-day as a carpet weaver and domestic servant to pay off the “loan.” Since RugMark rescued her, Sunita’s smile has returned.
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Ending the Cycle
RugMark works to end child labor before it begins through programs like daycare for weavers’ children. This daycare center in Nepal enables parents to focus on their craft, while their kids play and learn in a healthy environment.
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Boy Weaver
Children as young as 4 years-old are made to work on looms, resulting in irreparable physical harm including spinal deformities.
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Eager Student
Since 1995, Rugmark has freed more than 3,000 children from looms and deterred thousands more from entering the workforce.
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From Loom to Classroom
The sales of Rugmark certified rugs help fund 13 schools throughout South Asia, four of which provide residential facilities.
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Rugmark Students in Nepal
In Nepal, child labor in carpet production has dropped from 11% in 1996 to 3% today.
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The Young Heroes of Rugmark
Former child weavers Sanita Lama and Jaya Bhandari came to the U.S. in April 2007 to share their powerful story with audiences as part of "The Most Beautiful Rug" campaign. They blossomed into spokespeople for the modern day abolitionist movement.
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