Training students to report on hidden child labor

"People see the finished product but rarely think about who made it or the conditions they worked in," Aayan Zaman says. Child labor, he says, "is often invisible."

Behind The Label is his idea for changing that. It aims to expose the reality of child labor hidden within factory supply chains and to give young people a part in the solution. The project would train students in child rights, ethical storytelling and basic investigative journalism, so they can raise awareness responsibly and work with organisations that protect children.

“Every child deserves the chance to go to school and grow up safely”

Aayan Zaman

He studies at Aga Khan Academy Dhaka. The interest, he says, has been shaped by a recent documentary he produced on the stigma surrounding cancer patients in Dhaka, "exploring how many people avoid or isolate them because of misconceptions and social taboos." That experience, he says, "showed me how powerful storytelling can be in challenging harmful beliefs" and inspired him to use the same approach on other overlooked social issues.

The project is not built yet. "At the moment, the project is still in the planning stage," he says. He is researching the issue, developing the structure of the program, and identifying potential organisations and mentors that could support it.

He believes young people can help create change, he says, "when they have the right knowledge and support."