Stories about children’s days
Jacky, 17 year old boy
About Jacky’s life
Jacky lives with his father and his mother. His mother does not work, and his father is a rickshaw puller. Jacky has a sister who is married and lives with her husband.
Jacky has been working since 2018, when he began work at a footwear factory as a helper. Before that he went to school, but he stopped studying because of a financial crisis in his family. Jacky found the job himself.
Jacky does not seem comfortable in his neighbourhood, He seems constantly aware of, and sometimes directly experiences, antagonism from other boys and young men in the area.
CLARISSA researcher in a child’s home
I feel unsafe all the time, it is because I meet a lot of people of my age and I do not know who has what intentions for me…boys can bully me and take my phone and belongings and I cannot say anything.
Outside a factory
Since he started working, at the age of 13, Jacky has worked at several factories, switching his job frequently.
On 4th August 2022 Jacky recorded his journey and experiences going from home to work at a leather tanning factory, where he works an 11-hour shift. Jacky welcomed our researcher into his home and workplace and seemed to enjoy the accompaniment exercise, encouraging our researcher to speak with his parents and the owners and managers of his factory.
Glue and shoe soles
Jacky in his workplace
There are some workstations or tasks that Jacky prefers over others. For the first part of the day Jacky cuts and glues leather. He finds this stage of the production process difficult. After lunch (at home) Jacky’s task changes and he starts working on shoe soles. He is much happier undertaking this work, which involves using a machine.
Jacky struggles with work pressure and feels particularly uncomfortable during “load shedding”, which is a scheduled power outage that is implemented to deal with shortages in fuel supply (spikes in electricity demands are usually associated with high temperatures. Load shedding is becoming more common in Dhaka). The combination of heat and a lack of light make for very difficult conditions to work in, especially when working with glue.
Inside a shoe factory
I do not feel safe anywhere, this is not my area. In the place where I used to live, I had my people
Jacky’s day
Jacky’s experience
I am glad to have the company of the researcher today. A problem has arisen in the factory and my head feels hot because of it.
Researcher’s experience
Jacky is eating with his family in the small room where the three of them live. He invites me to sit with his father.
Jacky has a cigarette and then he sets off to work, walking with several girls.
Outside a factory
Jacky’s experience
The work pressure is very high today, and they have changed the part of the production process I’m working on, which is why I feel uncomfortable. After having tea, I feel much better.
Researcher’s experience
During the morning Jacky works at cutting and glueing leather. He seems restless and like he needs a break and some tea – he needs to regain his energy due to the hard work he is doing.
Jacky has a snack at 10am then he works continuously until 1pm when he goes home for lunch. I notice that the workers do not talk to one another while working.
Jacky walking through his neighbourhood
Child’s experience
I go home and I run an errand. I am feeling hungry. When I have my food, I feel better. As I begin my walk back to work, I can feel my belly has become active from the meal and I feel good.
Researcher’s experience
Jacky is clearly very hungry
A tanning factory from the outside
Jacky’s experience
I am feeling good as they have changed my location on the production line and given me my desired one, but I have to work until 7 pm. I feel uncomfortable during load shedding (scheduled power outages). Often the buildings are very dark. When we have load shedding we lose electricity, and this also means it gets very hot.
Researcher’s experience
After lunch Jacky’s tasks change. He works at making shoe soles using a machine. Comparatively, he likes it very much and works with new energy.
Tea stall
Jacky’s experience
I am tired. I feel better after some tea at a tea stall. I am with my friends and we gossip.
Researcher’s experience
At 7pm Jacky goes home. He stops at a tea shop for a drink and cigarette. He is not in a good mood after the long working day. After some time, Jacky’s father passes the tea shop, and we go home together.
When we arrive at his home I spend some time talking with Jacky’s parents. Jacky goes out again and I think he goes to hang out with some other boys in the tea shop.
Explore Jacky’s journey
Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.
Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.
Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.