Child Labor in Brazil and Sardinia Highlighted Amid Global Concerns

In Brazil, the Casa della Gioventù in Itaobim, operated by the Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII since 1997, provides safe housing, three daily meals and extracurricular education to protect vulnerable adolescents from exploitation. Lia Vivo, project manager, stresses that “addressing the root causes of poverty is essential to prevent children from being forced to work.” Success stories such as 17‑year‑old Marcos, who returned to school with his brother after receiving support, illustrate the centre’s impact.

In Sardinia, Italy, the fourth UNICEF report on child labor reveals that 2,399 youths aged 15‑17 were employed in 2025, a rate of 5.9%—well above the national average of 4.67%. Under‑19 workers rose from 5,431 in 2020 to 11,502 in 2024, making the region the second fastest‑growing in Italy. High early school‑dropout (14.5%) and NEET (17.8%) rates indicate structural educational vulnerability. Mauro Carta, president of Acli Sardinia, notes, “We are not facing a situation that justifies alarmism, but the data show the need to better understand this phenomenon.”