SOCIAL PROGRAMMES

RUGMARK's rehabilitation and education efforts are integral to its overall effort to end illegal child labour. Since 1995 RUGMARK schools in India, Nepal and Pakistan have offered educational opportunities to more than 2,000 former child weavers and children from weaving communities.

RUGMARK places a priority on encouraging community based rehabilitation. Every effort is made to reunite the children with their families and reintegrate them into their communities.

Four levels of support are given to children who return to live with their families, depending upon need:
  • support for school fees
  • support for books
  • support for uniforms
  • support for other materials
Children over 14 years are encouraged to join vocational training.



The educational programs are designed, so that children first go through an intensive non-formal training for literacy and numeracy, preparing them for a formal education. From there, the vocational training prepares children for joining the work force.

In Nepal, the non-formal programs are designed by the government and are meant to take two years to complete. Many children finish the program within eight months, showing that when they aren't working and are given proper nutrition, they are able to excel as students.

Formal educational programs include English language training, Hindi, math, and science. An emphasis is also put on physical fitness and extra-curricular pursuits, such as music.

As of February 2000, RUGMARK India has offered adult literacy programs to carpet weavers and a Self Help program that enables mothers of child weavers to learn to generate income.

Here are the highlights of our country programs:
  • In India, RUGMARK has built five primary schools in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and a sixth is planned. They also run one rehabilitation centre for former bonded labourers, and vocational training centre where older children are taught how to fix autos, paint signs, do electrical repair work, sew, and do masonry.
  • In Nepal, four RUGMARK Rehabilitation Centres offer schooling from K-10, with one offering vocational training in tailoring, textile making, and screen-printing. These facilities are managed by experienced local NGOs.
  • In Pakistan, RUGMARK has established three schools in Narowal, Faisalabad, and Bahawalnagar Districts. RUGMARK also works with eight affiliated schools.