24.9 million people are in forced labour around the world, a form of modern slavery. 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children. Over 16 million people are exploited in private sector work such as construction, bricklaying, agriculture or domestic work. Women and girls are disproportionately affected and at extreme risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
For those living in poverty, a sudden need for funds such as an emergency medical bill or a natural disaster destroying their home, forces them to borrow money they don’t have. They are tricked into working as bricklayers, earning as little as £1 a day. Most or all of the money they earn goes to pay off their loan, and although they work tirelessly in unsanitary and dangerous conditions, their debtor “pays” them very little, which means their debt continues for generations.
They are heavily exploited, often doing life-threatening work such as operating kilns, lifting heavy bricks and working in unhealthy conditions. Entire families get trapped in this form of bonded labour, working endlessly for their freedom. If the person who borrowed the money passes away, the debt is transferred to their children, causing an endless, vicious cycle. Children are also trapped, with 80% of them having never been to school. Whilst we enjoy the benefits of their hard labour with beautiful buildings, hospitals, schools, gardens and entertainment venues, millions of bricklayers are trapped. For them, there is no escape until their loan has been paid off.
They see no future, no opportunities and no freedom. But it doesn’t need to be this way. We can help pay off their debts and give them a future free from slavery. They are entitled to our Zakat, and our donations can truly save entire generations.
people are in forced labour around the world. Entire families have been enslaved for generations due to vicious cycles of debt and poverty.
is the average daily wage in the brickyards. Kiln owners charge families more for housing than they pay them in wages, ensuring their debt is never paid and they never leave the brickyards.
victims of modern slavery are children. 80% of working children have never been to school. Without an education, children have no chance to find opportunities outside the brickyards.
Indeed, charitable offerings are only to be given to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on administering it, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer. An obligation from God. And God is all-knowing, all-wise.
(Al-Tawbah, 9:60)
I have been working at a kiln for the last 17 years. My grandfather and father also used to work here. When I got married, my father needed money for the wedding. He borrowed money from the kiln owner and was working to pay off the loan. However, he died 2 years after my wedding. The loan was transferred to me, and so now I must work to pay it off.
When I had my first child, I vowed to give him a better life. I did not want him to have to work in a kiln his whole life like me. When he tuned 5, I wanted to send him to a good school and so asked the kiln owner to lend me some more money. He refused, as in 6 years, I have been unable to pay off my father’s debt. I did not give up. I have sent my child to a government school, but it means sometimes we do not have enough food to eat. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have dry bread, but other times we sleep with an empty stomach.
We receive your donations to free a family from debt.
We release funds to our local team who have already identified vulnerable families.
Our team travel to the area and facilitate a meeting between the family and kiln owner, where the loan is paid off and the family is finally free after generations of enslavement.
We send you photos and a message from the family you helped free.
Call us for information 0208 569 6444
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© Copyright 2020. Al Mustafa Welfare Trust® is a registered charity in England & Wales (1118492) and UK registered company 05581896.
