Sternsinger 2026: Together against child labor – hope for the future!

Sternsinger 2026: Together against child labor – hope for the future!

Like every year, the tradition of star singers in the Kaufbeuren parish community got off to a magical start this year on January 2nd, shortly after the New Year. Mayor Stefan Bosse was received in the city's historic meeting room, who praised the commitment of the hard-working star singers and underlined the importance of the campaign. This year's motto "School instead of factory - star singers against child labor" illustrates the urgent challenges that many children around the world have to experience in the clutches of exploitative working conditions. The donations collected are used to support various projects that counteract these grievances.

The star singers brought a happy atmosphere to the meeting room with their songs and verses, where they also blessed the town hall. On this occasion, the mayor presented the star singers with a small gift as a token of recognition. This event, which touched the hearts of those present, is not only a locally rooted celebration, but also a strong sign of solidarity for projects that care about the rights of children.

Projects against child labor

The donations collected by the star singers flow into three important projects. One of them is aimed at Bangladesh, where a shocking 1.8 million children and young people are forced to work, 1.1 million of whom suffer in extremely unhealthy conditions. This is where the ARKTF Foundation (Abdur Rashid Khan Thakur Foundation) in Jessore comes into play to combat exploitative working conditions. Their teams identify and rescue children from inhumane working conditions and try to get them into school.

But the challenges are great. Many families cannot do without their children's income, which further increases child labor. The aim is to improve working conditions through targeted work with parents, employers and authorities. By setting up seven centers, affected children receive psychological care, lessons and leisure opportunities to make a new start, in line with their own rights and the necessary schooling. You can find out more about this help for working children in Bangladesh at ster nsinger.de.

Support in Tanzania and Palestine

In addition to the initiatives in Bangladesh, the Sternsinger campaign also supports the expansion of a children's ward in Tanzania and the “Lifegate” project in Beit Jala, which particularly cares for children and young people with disabilities in Palestine. These projects represent an important step towards offering disadvantaged children a perspective and sustainably improving their living situation.

Overall, the star singers' campaign shows how important it is to stand up together for the rights of children. Even if the children's missionary organization is repeatedly confronted with dark chapters in its history, as in the case of Ms. Winfried Pilz, who was president of the children's missionary organization from 2000 to 2010 and has been criticized in recent years due to allegations of abuse, the star singers' commitment remains a ray of hope for many children around the world. The organization works actively to address any grievances and protect children's rights. You can find information about this at kindermissionswerk.org.