Making fireworks is a vital source of income for many families in Western Honduras. It is dangerous work, but the little they earn is often essential to their families.

Save the Children is working to improve the conditions of children working in the firework industry ? and make sure they don?t miss out on an education and other opportunities. The fireworks are produced in small workshops attached to people?s homes. Children often work with their parents in a family workshop or for another local producer. Some children work part-time and go to school. Others work full-time and miss out on an education. Children?s jobs include filling cardboard tubes with gunpowder and inserting the wicks into the gunpowder. Often they have to work with dangerous chemicals. Sometimes fireworks explode and children are burnt or injured. Save the Children has set up a series of Casas de La Niñez (Children?s Houses) to provide safe places where these children can have fun, learn new skills, and learn about their rights. Children are encouraged to continue to go to school even if they have to work; local communities and firework factory owners are supported to press for higher safety standards and improved conditions from workshop owners; and we are exploring alternative ways for families to make a living. Kelly has been coming to the Casa de La Niñez for two years and says: ?It?s really helped me a lot. It has helped to raise my self esteem and I?ve learned how to change things for the better. My message to working children is keep going to school and get an education.? Save the Children?s Mayra Torres says: ?This project has really made a difference. We can see how attitudes in the local communities are changing. Children who used to work full-time have gone back to school. And workshop owners are more aware of safety and children?s rights. And the children love coming to the Casas de La Niñez. Here they really can be children for a while.

Save the Children fights for children in the UK and around the world who suffer from poverty, disease, injustice and violence. We work with them to find lifelong answers to the problems they face.

For more information about our work visit our website www.savethechildren.org.uk