Nat Turner, Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, officially presented the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2024 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor to Wadi El Nil Association. This Minya-based Egyptian civil society organization has been recognized for its heroic efforts to end child labor in Egypt’s mining sector.
Turner praised Wadi El Nil for its impactful work, stating, "Wadi El Nil has done heroic work to combat child labor in Egypt’s limestone mining sector by offering children pathways to education and skills development rather than work in quarries, and providing microloans to families to help them achieve economic stability."
The U.S. Government is proud to acknowledge Wadi El Nil's outstanding contributions to ending child labor in Egypt. The organization has recently extended additional support to vulnerable families and collaborated with community organizations and volunteers to mitigate the impact of the Covid pandemic on those in need.
The United States and Egypt share a common goal of eliminating child labor and empowering children and families to live with dignity. This shared mission was exemplified through the recognition of Wadi El Nil's efforts.
The Iqbal Masih Award is named after a Pakistani child who was sold into slavery as a carpet weaver at the age of four. After escaping at ten, he became an outspoken advocate against child exploitation. In 1994, he received the Reebok Human Rights Award but was tragically killed a year later at the age of twelve in Pakistan. The award honors exceptional efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor, inspiring others to continue this crucial work.
Wadi El Nil is the first recipient of the Iqbal Masih Award from Egypt and one of only two organizations worldwide to receive this honor in 2024.
Follow the latest news on Google News
