Amid Yemen's ongoing conflict, millions of children like 14-year-old Qasim are forced to abandon their education and work to survive. Qasim collects plastic bottles daily to earn about $3, which sustains his family of six, highlighting how the war has turned children into breadwinners. Despite having once attended school, economic hardship and the collapse of the education system have led many children to prioritize work over learning.
The war's destruction has severely damaged Yemen’s education infrastructure, with over 2,400 schools rendered unusable and teachers unpaid, resulting in low-quality education and rising dropout rates. Parents, fearing unemployment and economic ruin, often see child labour as a necessity rather than a violation of rights. Experts warn that depriving children of education undermines their future and hampers national development, emphasizing the need for peace and economic stability to restore access to schooling.
Meanwhile, international aid efforts have diminished, leaving vulnerable children without support. Qasim has accepted that education is no longer an option for him and is focused on acquiring skills like painting or welding to secure a livelihood, illustrating the long-term consequences of Yemen’s protracted conflict on its youth.