Stories about children’s days
Kakoli, 13 year old girl
About Kakoli’s life
Kakoli lives in Gojomhol, Dhaka with her mother and two younger brothers. Her mother works in a factory. One of Kakoli’s younger brothers works in a leather factory, her other brother studies in a madrassa (Islamic school). Her elder brother and elder sister are married and live separately. Throughout Kakoli’s childhood, she witnessed her mother single-handedly managing the family with her sole income. Kakoli’s father does not live with them and does not contribute to the family.
On 13 March 2023, Kakoli documented her journey and shared her experiences while commuting from her home to her workplace at an export-oriented bag making factory, which is located approximately 15 minutes’ walk from her home
Bag weaving
I only perform one task each day, it consumes my entire focus. I persevere without stopping. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., I dedicate myself entirely to this task.
Kakoli relaxing and drying her hair
It is a typical day for Kakoli. She does not visit any other place except her home and the factory.
Kakoli feels safe whilst at the factory. At work she is very focused on completing her tasks without engaging in conversations with others. At home, she doesn’t actively participate in household chores, and she mostly spends her time sleeping. Participating in CLARISSA research gives Kakoli an opportunity to have friends over to her home and this recreational opportunity is exciting for her because it is rare.
Kakoli in her workplace
Kakoli and other child labourers in this area have falsified their birth certificates in order to work in factories. They claim to be 18 but are actually younger, sometimes not even 15. One girl even changed her name on her birth certificate and everyone in the factory knows her by her pseudonym.
A birth certificate
Kakoli’s route to work
“I just go to work and come back home. Every day, it is my only routine.”
During her journey to work, some boys try to snatch off her veil. Kakoli feels unsafe on the road that she takes back from the factory, which she feels is not safe for girls at all. She is uncertain of exactly why she feels this way, but she believes that the people in the area are not good. Additionally, she is aware of rumours about the place and assumes that there must be something problematic happening. She has noticed that boys using drugs frequently gather in the area. Kakoli feels safer when there is no one around.
This is my job, I have to finish it today.. Sometimes I feel bored but I do not stop.
Kakoli’s day
Kakoli’s experience
Every day I have to wake up very early in the morning. When I wake up at 7 o’clock, I feel really sleepy. Sometimes I feel really sleep-deprived. But no matter what, I have to wake up and go to work. I have no choice.
Researcher’s experience
Kakoli resides in a cramped room and her family of four share one bed, which is infested with bedbugs. As a result, it is challenging for her to sleep peacefully. In the morning, she appears drowsy and unenthusiastic about engaging in conversation.
Kakoli’s experience
I go to work from home and come straight back when the shift ends. I never go anywhere else. I take the same road every day, except if I have female friends with me. I take another road on the way back. That road goes in front of the mosque. I do not ever go there alone. All the bad boys in the area gather on that road. When I take that road with my friend, they make bad comments. I am always scared because I heard this road is very unsafe for girls. After dark, I never take that road.
Researcher’s experience
On her journey Kakoli encounters a man spraying fumigants to combat mosquitoes. The rickshaw slows down due to the thick smoke, and she encounters a group of teenage boys on the road, one of them grabs and tries to snatch away her veil, leaving her shocked and fearful.
Leather being woven into bags
Kakoli’s experience
I only perform one task each day. Sometimes my hand aches, and right now, I’m experiencing slight discomfort. My task consumes my entire focus. I feel a strong sense of obligation to finish it today, since it is my job. I am aware that my expertise lies solely in the making process. Despite occasionally feeling bored, I persevere without stopping.
I do not drink water that much. Our bathrooms are downstairs. I only go there when I really need to go. Although it is always clean. When I go downstairs and come back up, this is my only walking time.
Researcher’s experience
Kakoli cannot be creative in her work; it is just a monotonous job for her. But she is doing it with great concentration.
It seems common for children, particularly girls, to restrict their water intake and refrain from using the restroom, both at home and in factories. They do not have any health concerns regarding this practice.
Lunch in the cafeteria
Kakoli’s experience
It is our lunch time. I bring my lunch from home as walking home and returning would take too much time. I have no appetite to eat right now. But I really love this canteen as I can have lunch peacefully with my colleagues. I can rest here till my shift starts again.
Researcher’s experience
The cafeteria facility is beneficial for workers like Kakoli. If she had to go home for lunch, she would not have any time to rest. Additionally, she would have to walk for nearly 30 minutes to go home and return to the factory. She eagerly looks forward to meeting her friends in the cafeteria, as it provides her with a recreational opportunity.
Snacks and tea served in the evening
Kakoli’s experience
I feel relaxed after returning from work. As the researcher has come today to our home, my friends from work have also decided to accompany me home. So that we can all chat and have a good time. My mother is preparing evening snacks and tea for you and my friends as well. It feels good when we have guests because I do not get time to do fun stuff often.
I enjoy watching things on my phone. After Apu (the researcher) leaves, I take a rest and spend time watching TikTok and engaging in chats with my online friends. This is my favourite activity, and I derive great pleasure from it. I sleep at 11 pm
Researcher’s experience
Kakoli becomes tired after a long eight-hour shift. Engaging in recreational activities is not something she gets to do on a daily basis. However, my presence gives her an opportunity to spend some time with her friends outside of work, and that brings me joy. Although she does not talk much throughout the day, I see the happiness in her eyes when her friends come straight from the factory to her home.
Explore Kakoli’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.