Kailash Satyarthi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kailash Satyarthi
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Kailash in 2015
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Kailash Sharma
11 January 1954 |
| Alma mater | Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha (B.E., M.E.) |
| Known for | Activism for children's rights and children's education |
| Spouse(s) | Sumedha Satyarthi |
| Parent(s) | Ramprasad Sharma Chironjibai |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (2014) Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (1995) |
Kailash Satyarthi (born January 11, 1954) is an Indian social reformer. He is famous for his work against child labor. He also fights for every child's right to education.
In 2014, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai. They were awarded "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education." Satyarthi has started many groups to help children. These include Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement) and the Global March Against Child Labour.
Satyarthi and his team have freed more than 130,000 children in India. These children were saved from child labor, slavery, and trafficking. In 1998, he led a huge event called the Global March Against Child Labour. It was a march that crossed 103 countries and covered 80,000 kilometers. The march demanded an end to the worst kinds of child labor. It was one of the biggest movements ever for children's rights.
Because of the march, a new international rule was created. It is called the ILO Convention 182. This rule helps protect children from dangerous work.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kailash Satyarthi was born Kailash Sharma in a small town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. He grew up in a middle-class family. His father was a police officer, and his mother was a homemaker who taught him to be kind and helpful. In his neighborhood, Hindus and Muslims lived together peacefully.
As a child, Satyarthi noticed that some children could not go to school. They were poor and had to work instead. This bothered him, and he wanted to change it.
He went to a government school in his town. Later, he studied electrical engineering in college and earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree. After finishing his studies, he worked as a college teacher for a few years.
A Life of Activism
In 1980, Satyarthi decided to leave his engineering career. He wanted to spend his life helping children. He started the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement). This group works to rescue children from forced labor and help them get an education.
The Global March
One of Satyarthi's biggest achievements was the Global March Against Child Labour in 1998. He led people on an 80,000-kilometer journey across 103 countries. The marchers, including children who had been rescued, demanded new laws to protect kids.
This incredible march was a success. It led to the creation of an important international law. This law, called ILO Convention 182, helps fight the most dangerous forms of child labor around the world.
GoodWeave International
Satyarthi also started a program called GoodWeave International. This group created a special label for rugs and carpets. If a rug has the GoodWeave label, it means no children were forced to work to make it. This helps shoppers choose products that are made fairly. It also pushes companies to make sure their products are made without child labor.
Working for Education
Satyarthi believes that child labor is a major problem that keeps families in poverty. He argues that when children work instead of going to school, it leads to more poverty and illiteracy. He has worked with groups like UNESCO to promote "Education for All." He helped make sure that protecting children was a key part of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Organizations Founded by Satyarthi
Satyarthi has created several organizations to fight for children's rights.
- Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA): Founded in 1980, BBA rescues children from forced labor and trafficking. The group provides them with shelter, education, and support. It also works with communities to create "child-friendly villages" where all children are safe and go to school.
- GoodWeave International: This organization certifies that rugs are made without child labor. It gives shoppers a way to support ethical businesses and helps end child labor in the rug-making industry.
- The Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF): This foundation works worldwide to protect children. It raises awareness and pushes governments to create better laws for children's rights.
- Global Campaign for Education: Satyarthi was a founder and the first president of this group. It is a partnership of organizations from around the world that work together to make sure every child and adult can get a quality education.
- The 100 Million Campaign: Launched in 2016, this is a campaign led by young people. Its goal is to create a world where all young people are free, safe, and educated.
Bharat Yatra (March Across India)
In 2017, Satyarthi led a march across India called the Bharat Yatra. The march covered over 12,000 kilometers. Its purpose was to raise awareness about the importance of protecting children from harm.
Over a million people joined the 35-day march. It brought together politicians, faith leaders, and thousands of regular citizens. The march was successful in getting the Indian government to pass stronger laws to protect children.
Personal Life
Kailash Satyarthi lives in New Delhi, India, with his family. He is married to Sumedha Satyarthi, and they have a son and a daughter. He has said that the peaceful leader Mahatma Gandhi is his greatest inspiration.
In 2017, his Nobel Prize medal was stolen from his home. Thankfully, the police were able to find it and return it to him.
Awards and Honors
Satyarthi has received many awards for his work. The most famous is the Nobel Peace Prize, which he won in 2014. Some of his other major awards include:
- 1995: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (USA)
- 2002: Wallenberg Medal (from the University of Michigan)
- 2007: Gold Medal of the Italian Senate
- 2009: Defenders of Democracy Award (USA)
- 2015: Humanitarian of the Year (from Harvard University)
See also
- Malala Yousafzai
- Iqbal Masih
- Ehsan Ullah Khan
- List of peace activists
