ADANA  -“We do our homework at nights and we go to the public garden in the mornings. Maybe we make a lot of money and have a chance to have a holiday this summer,” said A. and M. who are two siblings aged 11 and 13 selling flower crowns made by their mother in order to continue their education.

 

The children whose rights just remain on the papers have been subjected to exploitation all over the world despite the international conventions. In the countries where the social state also remains just on papers, the children of poor families have to work. You can see ‘children-workers’ selling napkins, chewing gums or flowers on the streets in the immigrant receiving cities.

 

13-year old A. and 11-year old M. are two siblings selling flower crowns made by their mother in Merkez Park (Central Public Garden) in Yüreğir district of Adana province in order to continue their education. The two siblings said they worked to meet their education expenses; “We will work during summer holiday. Because we have to work.”

 

‘We want to go on holiday’

 

These two children go out and sell the flower crowns to the children for three Turkish lira and to the adults for five Turkish lira. A. and M. give their money to their mother at the end of the day. A sixth grade student A. said, “We do our homework at nights and we go to the public garden in the mornings. Maybe we make a lot of money and have a chance to have a holiday this summer. Those who have money can go on holiday. We also want to go on holiday.”