In Karachi, the organization "SPARC" supports children who are forced to work in the worst conditions of dependency: as maids and houseboys, in shrimp factories, or as street vendors.

Usman is eight years old. For two years, he had to work as a domestic helper for the owner of a shrimp factory. His children were allowed to go to school, but Usman wasn't: his parents depended on his wages to support the family. 

Usman and his family come from the "Machar Colony," Karachi's largest slum. Approximately 700,000 people live here: some are refugees from Afghanistan, but the majority are Bengalis whose parents or grandparents fled what is now Bangladesh. Most have no legal right to reside in the country. Their financial situation is correspondingly precarious: many children are forced to bring money home early. They peel shrimp, sell goods on the street, or work in the households of wealthier families. 

And there are cases where children fare far worse than Usman's: Over the past 15 years, the media has reported on at least 140 children who were abused, raped, or murdered. Since the families are at the mercy of their employers without legal protection and only a few cases even report them, the number of unreported cases is far higher. 

Protection and perspectives 

To protect children and help them escape poverty and exploitation, Terre des Hommes works with several local partner organizations: "Obun2," which conducts political work for child protection; "DevCon," which opens up a future beyond exploitation, especially for girls; and "SPARC," which works primarily with refugee children. 

02.09.2025