Introduction

Did you know that around 168,000,000 kids are in child labor? Child labor is a horrible thing. It can affect the world. Many companies in India take in kids for labor and it can be unhealthy. A boy who was in labor named Iqbal later escaped labor, fought against labor, was killed for his beliefs, then affected the world and changed things for good.

Later, he would be able to make an escape while the overseers there weren't looking. He left at the age of ten. Iqbal knew that what the carpet company and many others were doing was wrong. Iqbal decided that he wanted to be, said by himself, “I would like to do what Abraham Lincoln did… I would like to do it in Pakistan”. Iqbal would do everything he could; he did speeches and made a community of people who wanted to end child slavery. He also wanted to get a school built so kids could get education and NOT do work that only adults actually have the strength to do. He traveled the world to give speeches. He went to England, America, and also stayed in Pakistan for speeches.

Remember, this is a boy around the age of eleven at this point! This goes to show that even as a kid, anyone can change the world for the better. Unfortunately, Iqbal had died at the age of 12. When he returned to Pakistan from traveling, he was shot outside his grandmother’s house on April 16th, 1995 on an easter sunday. He was killed by Ashraf Hero, a heroin addict that was speculated to be hired by the carpet company. Iqbal was killed for fighting against something that he thought was wrong.

Iqbal's Effect

Trying to end child slavery did not end there, though. Iqbal’s affect traveled all around the world. In honor of Iqbal, a group of children from Broadmeadow Middle School made a campaign to fight for Iqbal’s dream. This group is called, “A School For Iqbal”. They wanted to raise money to build schools, just as Iqbal had wanted. They made an email to receive $12 donations because Iqbal died at the age of 12 and was also sold for $12 dollars. They got responses within the first two days, along with donations. The goal for donations was to get $50,000, yet, surprisingly, within a year and a half, $250,000 had been raised. "In the 10 years after Iqbal's death, "A School for Iqbal" has raised money to build 8 schools in countries around the world." (FREEDOM HERO. IQBAL MASIH)

Along with other people, the carpet company was also affected by Iqbal before he died when he escaped, and when he died. He had told his story with the carpet company and people didn't like what they were hearing, so even before his death, sales were dropping. Some people think it was the carpet company’s idea to kill Iqbal, which dropped sales. Since his death, the company lost $10,000,000, and exports lowered. The vice chairman of the Pakistan Carpet Company, Imran Malik said, “Carpets that were once considered a piece of art are now looked upon as if the blood of children has been used to make them.” The carpet company saw what was happening, and decided that they needed to change the plan. They would stop using child labor. This way they would earn more money from anti-child labor. People would no longer look down on them.

Conclusion

Over all, child labor is used by many companies, a boy named Iqbal was in labor, escaped, then put an effect on the world to stop labor. This goes to show that anyone at any age can help stop anything if they put their mind to it and try their hardest. Anyone and everyone can make a difference in the world for the good, and so can you. Make a difference.