June 12 is World Day Against Child Labour Day, and it raises awareness around the issue and urges people to work towards its prevention. Miss Bulgaria 2019 Margo Cooper shares concern. She also speaks about how wrong it is to employ children because they can be easily manipulated, it’s cheap labour and most of them are bound to work to earn a living or support their families.
“I would like to shed some light on this topic because I think we as consumers are not aware enough of buying from companies that use children labour. Very often it’s multi-million corporations that are not only using children but also underpaying them instead of trying to give them a better future. Once I had a conversation with a businessman who sincerely thinks that he helps children by providing them work at his factories. Then I asked them if his children are also working there and if not why. I honestly think we can do better as a society. The business elite should treat all children equally. It’s unethical how unprivileged children are treated,” she says.
Margo had given a few live lectures and also made a documentary based on the exploitation of children and kids on the streets. She has also answered many questions during such sessions.
“I’ve always been asked if is good to give money to homeless children begging on the streets. I think everything you do with a kind intention is good but it’s not a solution. Because it’s a fast way to feel like a better person but in fact these kids are going to live on the street all their lives and the next generations as well because it’s a vicious circle. They get involved in a street crime where they collect money for adults who keep those children in poor condition,” she adds.
The beauty queen and aspiring actor also spends much time talking to these children on the streets. “They are victims… And my heart breaks into pieces listening to them because they deserve better than that. Once I asked a kid on the street if he thinks that people are good or bad and he replied that the majority is bad. Society can’t just close its eyes on the exploitation of children and then expect them to turn into some sort of happy, responsible adults. The numbers are shocking. Officially, there are 160 million children involved in into labour. Worldwide 21% victims of sex trafficking are children in this world. What we can do is at least contact organizations or officials if we know of these things are happening and try to support the accessibility of education for unprivileged children. What’s more important is to stop separating us and from them. There is no child who should suffer and get deprived of their rights,” she ends.
