10 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Labor (Complete 2024 List)

10 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Labor (Complete 2024 List)

By
Diana Stancu

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Globally, 160 million children are involved in child labor, with the number rising each year. And in the world’s poorest countries, more than 1 in 5 children suffer from labor abuse, working in industries and brands that value profit over their employees. Fortunately, charities worldwide are fighting to stop this crime by giving educational and financial opportunities to vulnerable youth. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that fight to end child labor?

The best charities that fight to end child labor are GoodWeave, ChildHope UK, and the Responsible Mica Initiative. Charities like the Child Freedom Coalition, the International Cocoa Initiative, and Save the Children work to protect youth from labor trafficking through education and advocacy.

Whether you want to support child labor victims, help implement policies that prevent child labor, or ensure that companies employ best practices in their supply chains, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that fight to end child labor are all about, how they work, and what would be your best way to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Fight to End Child Labor Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, achievements, and transparency ratings.

They operate all over the world, from North America to East Asia, working to prevent and eliminate child labor.

Most of the charities below partner with governments and brands to ensure they prevent child labor in supply chains. They also work with local communities and families to educate them on their rights and stop the harmful social norms that promote child labor.

In addition, the charities rescue and rehabilitate child labor victims by offering educational opportunities and trainings that will ensure safe employment. Moreover, some charities focus their efforts on eliminating child labor in specific industries, such as cocoa, tobacco, or agriculture.

Yet, they all share the same goal: to address the harms of child labor and stop this form of slavery.

These Are the 10 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Labor in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that fight to end child labor (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

1

GoodWeave: A World Free of Child Labor

Logo for GoodWeave
GoodWeave International

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Their transparency & ratings:

GoodWeave has an encompass score of 100% from Charity Navigator for Finance & Accountability. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

We are the leading global institution with a mission to stop child labor in global supply chains through a market-based holistic and authentic system.

GoodWeave

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What they do:

GoodWeave fights to change societal norms and influences corporate businesses to eliminate child labor. They do this by partnering with global brands to establish proper labor standards in their supply chains. They also inspect worksites to find victims of child labor and discourage bad practices through their GoodWeave Certification initiative. This is an accredited standard for brands and products made without child labor. In addition, they rescue and rehabilitate victims while ensuring they continue their education through Child-Friendly Communities (CFC). Furthermore, they run awareness campaigns for parents and at-risk children to prevent further exploitation.

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What they’ve achieved:

To date, GoodWeave has rescued over 6,000 children from exploitation in multiple industries, including apparel, brick manufacturing, and tea making. Furthermore, through their GoodWeave certification label, they have certified over 28 million rug and home textile products and made nearly 260,000 quality inspections for 169 brand partners. Moreover, in 2018, they rescued nearly 800 children from labor and provided 12,000 youth with educational opportunities. In the same year, they sheltered 1,400 children in 57 CFCs

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to GoodWeave directly on their website. You can also shop their certified rugs and textiles. In addition, you can assign your business to their certification program and receive the GoodWeave label for best practices. 

2

ChildHope UK: Creating Safer Childhoods

Logo for Responsible Mica Initiative
Brighter Futures For All - Impact Charity Video | ChildHope UK

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, ChildHope UK spent 44% of their total income on programs promoting education for children, 37% on programs combating the worst forms of child labor, and 11% on programs tackling modern slavery.

Our mission is to build on the strengths within children, families, communities and institutions so that children can grow up to become confident citizens.

ChildHope UK

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What they do:

ChildHope UK combats child labor by partnering with local organizations across Asia and Africa. They do this by running multiple programs that support child victims of labor abuse within local industries and supply chains. For example, they rehabilitate child dumpsite workers in Kenya by providing them with the skills and confidence they need to re-enter education. They also support families to reduce or prevent poverty in their communities and protect their children against labor trafficking by empowering them to run their own advocacy efforts. Moreover, the charity engages children in decision-making and works with governments to help implement systems that protect forced labor survivors.

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, ChildHope UK works to end child labor across 9 countries in Asia and Africa. For this, they have developed 10 projects and 17 partnerships to protect children within apparel, waste picking, dumpsite working, and other industries. For example, in 2020, they protected over 11,000 children from trafficking and provided 39,000 youth with access to education or vocational training. In the same year, they supported more than 8,500 youth to decide on protection norms for children in their communities.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to ChildHope UK on their website. You can also contribute by participating in their fundraising events, becoming a corporate partner, or starting a personal fundraiser.

3

Responsible Mica Initiative: A Holistic Approach to Ending Child Labor

Logo for Responsible Mica Initiative
Responsible Mica Initiative mission

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Responsible Mica Initiative spent 60% of their total income on Community Empowerment Programs, 20% on programs for improving legal frameworks, 10% on implementing responsible workplace standards, and 10% on administrative costs. 

We take a holistic approach in addressing the multiple underlying causes of child labor, such as poor working conditions, to liberate the children to live their lives freely.”

Responsible Mica Initiative

⚒️

What they do:

The Responsible Mica Initiative fights to end child labor in the mica industry by mobilizing its corporate members to map the source of mica from their products. Then, each member’s supply chain must adopt health and safety standards for its workers, as well as fair labor practices that forbid the use of child labor. Moreover, the charity improves the lives of mica child workers with access to quality education, free healthcare services, and regulation policies. They also fight for higher salaries for adult workers or teach them other forms of work, such as farming, to improve their livelihoods and eliminate the need for children to work as well. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Responsible Mica Initiative has empowered and protected 180 villages and 53,000 people across 156 mica mines in India. For example, in 2021, they enrolled 18,600 families in public health insurance programs. In the same year, they provided better sources of income to over 1,300 households through alternative means of work. They also helped nearly 1,000 children attend school regularly and supplied almost 900 underserved families with technical and financial support to earn a dignified livelihood. Moreover, their 74 mica-using partners ensured that over 50% of India’s mica exports were ethically sourced.

Ways to contribute:

You can become a corporate member of the Responsible Mica Initiative to contribute to supply chains that protect human rights. You can also get involved by joining their team or participating in their training programs about the mica industry.

4

Not for Sale: Create a World of Dignity

Logo for Not for Sale
Take One Step | We Are Not For Sale

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Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives Not For Sale a 4-star rating, with a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability. GuideStar gives them the Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

We envision and fight for a future without exploitation and forced labor, where healthy people and the planet can function together in harmony — in a world where no one is for sale.

Not For Sale

⚒️

What they do:

Not for Sale works to alleviate child labor victims and at-risk populations. They do this by partnering with community leaders and businesses to understand the root causes of slavery in their region. In addition, they provide direct services to those affected by trafficking, including child labor, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. They also work to investigate the local economy and break the cycle of poverty that makes people vulnerable to trafficking. Furthermore, they establish local businesses that generate sustainable, well-paid jobs in the region so families can earn enough money to keep their children in school.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Not for Sale has supported over 270,000 survivors and at-risk individuals from 12 countries worldwide. For example, in 2021, they reached 70,700 people, including 6,000 survivors of forced labor who received aftercare services. In the same year, they provided safe employment and vocational training to 64,700 people, including 22 children. In addition, they equipped over 1,800 children from 9 countries with education and schooling to prevent labor abuse. Moreover, they rescued 115 children in shelters and reunited 47 exploited youth with their families. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Not for Sale on their website. You can also contribute by fundraising or buying their merchandise. In addition, you can join their team or consider employer matching

5

Child Freedom Coalition: Freedom Changes Everything

Logo for Child Freedom Coalition
Mother's Day 2020

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Child Freedom Coalition has a 67% encompass rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for Leadership & Adaptability. They also hold the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

We’re ending child trafficking in South Asia through empowering services that propel children into successful and independent adulthood.

The Child Freedom Coalition

⚒️

What they do:

The Child Freedom Coalition combats child labor by rescuing victims from abusive supply chains across South Asia. They then reunite the survivors with their families or provide them with shelter in Children’s Homes. In the shelters, the children receive aftercare services like counseling, education, and vocational training to rebuild their lives and stop the cycle of poverty. After training, the charity connects survivors with businesses to ensure safe employment or they keep the graduates as teachers for other students at the shelter.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Child Freedom Coalition has rescued and rehabilitated children from rock quarries and brick-making factories across four Asian countries. They have also reunited 14,000 children with their families and sheltered 1,200 youth in aftercare shelters. For example, in 2021, they invested nearly $900,000 across their programs and services for labor trafficked children and helped 780 teenagers to graduate from vocational training and start safe, decent jobs

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Child Freedom Coalition on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram or read their monthly blog.

6

MountainChild: Carrying Hope to the Children of the Himalayas

Logo for MountainChild
MountainChild's 5 Core Issues: 4 - Labor

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Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives MountainChild a 71% encompass rating for Finance & Accountability. They also hold the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

We aim to stop the cycle of suffering in remote, vulnerable regions and enable the mountain child to become a carrier of hope to their people.”

MountainChild

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What they do:

MountainChild combats child exploitation by empowering Himalayan communities to pull themselves out of poverty. They do this by educating children on health matters and bringing awareness of their human rights to instill dignity. They also train families in modern farming techniques to increase crop production and allow their children to continue their studies. Moreover, they rescue and shelter child labor victims to offer education and prevent future exploitation. Afterward, they engage youth in agricultural practice, vocational training, and formal education to influence long-term changes in their communities. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, MountainChild has offered critical help to communities from over 15 villages in Nepal. For example, in 2020, they invested over $1,4 million in programs that protected vulnerable children from various types of trafficking, including child labor. In the same year, they conducted over 100 rescues and sheltered the victims in their safe homes. Moreover, their 113 volunteers worked nearly 1,000 hours to give literacy classes to 20 adults and help 22 children graduate from learning centers. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to MountainChild on their website. You can also join their Elevate community by making monthly donations. In addition, you can do volunteer work across remote villages.

7

International Cocoa Initiative: Preventing and Addressing Child Labor in Cocoa

Logo for International Cocoa Initiative
Thriving cocoa communities: ICI's vision of change

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the International Cocoa Initiative spent 63% of their total income on supportive programs for victims of forced labor, 27% on Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation programs, and 8% on Learning and Innovation projects. 

Our vision is of thriving cocoa-growing communities within a dignified, sustainable and responsibly managed cocoa supply chain, where child rights are protected and respected, and where child labor has been eliminated.”

The International Cocoa Initiative

⚒️

What they do:

The Cocoa Initiative combats child labor in the cocoa industry by implementing best practices and labor standards that protect children’s rights. For example, their Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) work to create ethical supply chains to reduce child labor and rescue exploited youth. The charity also runs awareness campaigns to educate parents about their rights and protect their children against labor abuse. Moreover, they advocate with lawmakers and stakeholders to implement policies that value employees over profit.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Cocoa Initiative has protected children across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon. They have also developed projects that prevented child labor by empowering and financially supporting at-risk families. For example, between 2015 and 2020, they protected over 400,000 children and reduced child labor by 20% in assisted communities. Furthermore, in 2020, their CLMRS program reached more than 450,000 farmers and supported 153,000 at-risk children. In the same year, they enrolled 5,500 youth in schools and trained nearly 8,500 supply chain members

Ways to contribute:

You can become a corporate member of the International Cocoa Initiative to contribute to responsible supply chains. You can also apply for a job or follow the charity’s news and projects on their website.

8

Save the Children: Every Child Deserves a Future

Logo for Save the Children
Who Founded Save the Children?

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Their transparency & ratings:

Save the Children has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

We take a holistic approach to tackle the root causes of child trafficking and involve children in the design and implementation of solutions.

Save the Children

⚒️

What they do:

Save the Children fights to end child labor by working with local communities to protect children from exploitation and keep them in school. They do this by implementing monitoring and remediation projects, such as social protection systems and supply chain monitoring. Moreover, they educate vulnerable communities to understand labor standards and advocate for their rights. In addition, they mentor local authorities to find child labor victims and run awareness campaigns for buyers of child exploitative industries. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

To date, Save the Children has implemented projects against child labor in the agriculture, garment, and cocoa industries across 3 continents. For example, in 2019, they launched the “Work: No Child’s Business” project that ensured youth in child labor hotspots have access to quality education. They also established a Center for Children’s Rights in Asia and Mexico that enforced international standards on child rights in local industries and offered aftercare services to child labor victims. In addition, in 2021, they created a toolkit for companies in Mexico to prevent child labor in their supply chains. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Save the Children through their website. You can also volunteer or join their advocacy campaigns. Additionally, you can shop their merchandise or participate in their fundraising events.

9

Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation (ECLT): A Better Life for Children, Farmers, and Families

Logo for Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation (ECLT)
Work safe. Dream big!

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation spent 19% of their total income on global support programs for at-risk communities, 17% on child labor prevention programs in Malawi, and 14% on global advocacy projects and policy implementations. 

We create collaborative solutions for children and their families that combat the root causes of child labor in tobacco-growing communities.

The Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation

⚒️

What they do:

The Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation rescues exploited children and then offers educational trainings and safe employment opportunities. For this, they conduct a Youth Employment Model that trains adolescents in specific markets and connects them with potential employers. Moreover, the charity strengthens local communities through awareness campaigns and financial education to end generational poverty and keep children in school. In addition, they advocate with governments and partners to implement policies that prevent youth from working in tobacco supply chains. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation has impacted over 1 million at-risk individuals across 7 countries. They have also protected 200,000 youth from entering child labor and educated more than 33,000 children through schooling or vocational training. In addition, their awareness campaigns have reached over 700,000 people and provided financial education to nearly 100,000 tobacco-growing farmers. For example, in 2021, they removed 7,400 children from labor and enrolled them in schools while training 10,000 farm owners on responsible farming practices.

Ways to contribute:

You can contribute to the ECLT Foundation by following their latest activities and stories or by following them on Facebook and Twitter

10

UNICEF: For Every Child

Logo for UNICEF
We won't stop | UNICEF

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Their transparency & ratings:

UNICEF has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

We work in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere.

UNICEF

⚒️

What they do:

UNICEF works to prevent child labor by strengthening local social services to identify labor abuse and give aftercare help to victims. They also educate parents to address harmful social norms that perpetuate child exploitation in their communities. Moreover, they collect data to raise awareness of child labor and partner with local governments to change policies and prevent abuse. In addition, they provide educational opportunities for survivors to help them reintegrate into society and find safe jobs.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Today, UNICEF restores child labor victims in 13 countries across four continents. They also aid children recruited as soldiers and spies in armed conflicts, having helped over 13,000 survivors in 2018 alone. Moreover, in 2021, they provided social work and justice services to 4,4 million children across 129 countries who experienced exploitation, including child labor. In the same year, they provided psychological and social support to 8,4 million children and adolescents from 111 countries who were at risk of child labor and other abuses. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to UNICEF on their website. You can also volunteer or apply for a job. In addition, you can join their online platform for young people or their global advocacy community

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that fight to end child labor. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

  • Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
  • Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
  • Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
  • Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
  • Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
  • Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

  • Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
  • Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
  • Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
  • Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
  • Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to fighting to end child labor – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

Illustration of a signature for Diana

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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