Work
Possibilities and Training
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For most people, some kind of work is necessary in order to eat and have a place to
live. In rural areas, the main work of many families involves farming, fishing, hunting
and gathering, or other forms of food production. Equally important is the work of
‘keeping house’ and bringing up the family.
Who does most of the work within a family depends on local customs and the
family’s situation. In most poor rural families nearly everyone—women, men, and
children—help with the work of survival. By the time they are 5 or 6 years old, children
may be helping to take care of the babies, feed the chickens, herd the goats, shell and
clean the grain, and to carry out other tasks so that the older members of the family
are free to do other work. In many societies, children by age 8 or 10 bring in more
income (food or money) than it costs their families to take care of them.
Work that frees people and work that makes them slaves
Work—whether it is done by adults or children—can be either a good or bad
experience. It can help persons gain dignity and independence. Or it can take away
their dignity, freedom, and health. How workers are affected depends on work
conditions, on the fairness of wages, on workers’ rights, and on how much respect
and equality exists between workers and bosses.
In some situations, especially in cities, many children are forced to work long, hard
hours in unsafe or unhealthy work conditions for very low pay. Such ‘child labor’ is
cruel, and may result in permanent damage to the child’s body or spirit.
In some rural areas, children from the poorest families
must also work long, hard hours under difficult conditions.
But for many rural children, the opportunity to help their
families with the labor of production and survival
is a greater adventure than is ‘play’. The chance
to take care of a real baby (not just a doll) or to
help grow the family food, gives many farm
children a feeling of importance, self-
confidence, and personal worth that is
not often seen in city children.
As a child grows up, to be
wanted and well cared for is not
enough. A young person needs
to feel that he or she is needed.
To become ‘independent’ can be
important. But just as important is to
develop an ability to do things for
and with others, to contribute
toward meeting the needs of
family, friends, and community.