By Alisha Yadav
Siliguri, June 11, 2026: The local Church in Bagdogra Diocese marked the World Day Against Child Labour with a spirited football campaign, rallying the community under the theme “Red Card to Child Labour – Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”
Seva Kendra, the social service wing of the Diocese of Bagdogra, partnered with Salesian College (Autonomous), Siliguri, to host the event. The initiative highlighted the Church’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and ensuring access to education.
Bishop Paul Simick of Bagdogra, Seva Kendra Director Father Naresh Beck, Advocacy Officer Mr. Tez Kumar Thapa, and Salesian College Vice Principal Salesian Father C.M. Paul joined faculty, students, and local officials, including representatives from the Sashastra Seema Bal and Siliguri Police Commissionerate.
Welcoming the gathering, Father Beck introduced the Church’s Surokhit Shaisav project, which focuses on child protection and education. Awareness sessions underscored the causes and consequences of child labour and the need for collective community action.
“Child labour robs children of their dignity and future. Education is the only red card we can show to this injustice,” said Bishop Simick, urging communities to unite against exploitation.
“Sports are a powerful medium to spread social messages. Today’s match reminds us that fair play must begin with giving every child the right to learn and grow,” added Assistant Professor Khushboo Beck.
Two friendly football matches carried the campaign’s message, with teams from Salesian College Siliguri, SSB Ranidanga, Gungaram Moonic, and Belgachi participating. Certificates were awarded to all players, symbolizing recognition of their role in promoting awareness.
“Our youth are the torchbearers of change. When they play for justice, society listens,” remarked Thapa.
Father C.M. Paul distributed certificates to players and officials, reinforcing the Church’s role in mobilizing youth and community for justice.
Through its collaboration with Salesian College, the Diocese of Bagdogra amplified its outreach, engaging students, faculty, and the wider community in advocating for a child labour–free society.
The Catholic Church has consistently raised its voice against child labour, framing it as a violation of human dignity and a denial of children’s future. The late Pope Francis for example, repeatedly urged the global community to act decisively against child labor.
“A child who cannot dream, who cannot play, cannot grow up. It is robbing children of their future and therefore humanity itself,” he lamented while calling for a commitment to protect every child’s right to education and play.
His words resonate with the Church’s broader advocacy, which aligns with the International Labour Organization’s conventions and stresses that education is the most effective “red card” against exploitation.
According to the International Labour Organization, nearly 138 million children worldwide are still trapped in child labour, with more than 54 million exposed to hazardous work that endangers their health and safety.
Behind these numbers are children who should be in classrooms, not fields, factories, or workshops. The majority — about six in ten — work in agriculture, often unpaid on family farms, while others are pushed into services and industry.
These figures are not just statistics; they represent lost childhoods and stolen futures. They underscore the urgent need for community and Church-led campaigns that defend children’s dignity, protect their rights, and ensure access to education.
Every child kept from school is denied the chance to dream, grow, and flourish — a reality the Church continues to challenge through advocacy and grassroots action.
(Photo supplied)