Stories about Children’s Days

  • Home
  • Stories about children’s days

In 2022 CLARISSA worked with 45 children between the ages of 12 and 17 in Kathmandu and Dhaka to explore how they navigate their day-to-day lives.

From when they wake to when they go to bed, the children and researchers combined the use of GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping, mini-surveys and observational data to document their experiences in their homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods.

Read about the day in the life of a working child.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Rama, 17 year old girl

Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Supriya, 16 year old girl

Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Pema, 15 year old girl

Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Khem, 17 year old boy

Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Arpita, 16 year old girl

Arpita, 16, works in a massage and spa venue.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Sushma, 17 year old girl

Sushma, 17, works ten hours a day at a massage and spa venue.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Nisha, 16 year old girl

Nisha, 16, works in her family’s khaja ghar (informal eatery) in Kathmandu.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Rinku, 15 year old girl

Rinku, 15, has worked in a dance bar since she was 12.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Mona, 17 year old girl

Mona, 17, works in a dance bar from the early afternoon into the night. She has worked there since she was 12.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Simi, 17 year old girl

Simi, 17, works in a massage and spa venue in the Thamel area of Kathmandu and is a single mother to a three-year-old.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Bidisha, 17 year old girl

Bidisha, 17, goes to school in the morning and then works for 10 hours a day in her family’s khaja ghar (small eatery).

Nepal
A day in the life of
Samita, 14 year old girl

Samita, 14, works 12 hours a day in a massage and spa venue in Kathmandu.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Megha, 16 year old girl

Megha, 16, works all day and then again in the evening undertaking different singing and entertainment jobs.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Batsa, 16 year old boy

Batsa, 16, goes to school in the day then works late into the night in the kitchen of a dohori.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Tisha, 17 year old girl

Tisha, 17, works in a khaja ghar (small neighbourhood restaurant) for up to 12 hours a day.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Rekha, 17 year old girl

Rekha is a 17-year-old girl who works in a dance bar in Kathmandu.

Nepal
A day in the life of
Preeti, 14 year old girl

Preeti is 14-year-old girl who works in a dohori (folk singing and dancing venue).

Nepal
A day in the life of
Yakthumma, 17 year old girl

Yakthumma, 17, moved alone to Kathmandu to pursue a dream of playing the guitar, but currently she works for 12 hours a day in a massage venue.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Chandra, 13 year old girl

Chandra, 13, works in a garments factory to cover her family’s day to day living costs.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Shakib, 17 year old boy

Shakib, 17, works long hours, six days a week and is put under a lot of pressure from his supervisors.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Sonju,16 year old boy

Sonju, 16, has been working since the age of nine as a helper in a factory.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Asha, 17 year old girl

Asha, 17, works in a factory sewing leather bags. She has worked since she was 13.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Kakoli, 13 year old girl

Kakoli, 13, works in a leather goods factory. She, like many of her colleagues, falsified her date of birth on her birth certificate in order to get her job.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Ashnir, 15 year old boy

Ashnir, 15, combines work and studying.

Bangladesh
Illustration of Marisha
A day in the life of
Marisha, 14 year old girl

Marisha, 14, works in a shoe factory and often works well into the night. During busy periods she works seven days a week, and does not have a day off for weeks on end.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Ramina, 17 year old girl

Ramina, 17, works in a leather factory. Her official working hours are 9am until 6pm but she must do overtime every single day.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Manali, 13 year old girl

Manali, 13, works long hours in a leather factory where she performs hazardous tasks, experiences constant pain and discomfort and is verbally abused by her employers.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Aftab, 13 year old boy

Aftab, 13, is the breadwinner of his family, neither of his parents are employed.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Rina, 14 year old girl

Rina, 14, works 12 hours a day, six days a week in a factory, where she operates machinery and experiences a lot of pressure and verbal abuse from her employers.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Jacky, 17 year old boy

Jacky, 17, works 11 hours a day in a shoe factory.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Jhilik, 16 year old girl

Jhilik, 16, left school five years ago, because her family’s debt meant that her parents needed her to work and earn money.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Fahima, 16 year old girl

Fahima, 16, frequently works from 8am until 10pm in a leather factory. At peak periods she works through the night.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Raj, 16 year old boy

Raj, 16, works for 11 hours a day for less than US$5.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Sagir, 14 year old boy

Sagir is a 14-year-old boy who works 11 hours a day carrying leather hides and pinning leather sheets to the ground to dry.

Bangladesh
A day in the life of
Aadaya, 15 yr old girl

Aadya works all day in a small,
hot factory cutting leather into
gloves. Her hands throb with pain.

Download Reports

NEPAL

A day in the life of a working child in Kathmandu, Nepal – A synthesis of 20 stories about children’s days

Findings on working children’s daily experiences and challenges. By looking at the child’s whole day the report reveals the interconnections between home life and work life, gender and wider social norms, the work children do and the environment they do it in.
Download Report
BANGLADESH

A day in the life of a working child in Dhaka, Bangladesh – A synthesis of 25 stories about children’s days

Findings on working children’s daily experiences and challenges. By looking at the child’s whole day the report reveals the interconnections between home life and work life, gender and wider social norms, the work children do and the environment they do it in.
Download Report