Protect girls from child domestic labor in Peru

Summary

La Casa de Panchita empowers 800 women & girls as young as 9 to escape 14 hour days, avoid abuse, attend school, and earn fair pay. We train, tutor, and give legal advice to domestic workers in Lima.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Half a million females work as servants and nannies in Peru. Most come to Lima from rural poverty or shantytowns. The vast majority do not enjoy basic rights: schooling, 6 day work week, minimum wage. Girls as young as 9 years serve others to earn a meal and care for children, instead of going to school themselves. Women and girls suffer abuse and entrapment. We enable these women to stand up for their rights and negotiate better jobs and give these girls a chance to reclaim their childhood.

How will this project solve this problem?

With our education, training and counseling, girls and women in domestic work will be able to improve their own situations, encourage other girls to look beyond domestic work and improve working conditions and opportunities for all domestic workers.

Potential Long Term Impact

We are helping break through a heritage of poverty and servitude passed from mother to daughter because of lack of opportunity and education. As they gain skills, confidence and understanding of their rights, the 800 girls and women we serve each year will pursue more education and secure better jobs. They in turn will educate other domestic workers and parents of young girls about the alternatives and will fight to ensure the rights of all domestic workers are respected.

Project Message

I was a domestic worker for 16 years, from age 8. Through La Casa de Panchita I got support and a scholarship to become an IT technician. Now I volunteer to help others girls realize their dreams.
- Delia Quispe, Outreach worker, La Casa de Panchita

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources