Iqbal Masih

My hero is Iqbal Masih. He tried to stop child labour. He is a VERY big hero to me. I think he helped to change the world and I hope you learn a lot about him and enjoy reading my story. Maybe he might even be your hero too!

Iqbal wanted to stop child labour. He knew every kid had the right to play and be free not to be beaten and tortured. He had to go through child labour himself and he didn't want that to happen to anyone else.

Iqbal was sold to a carpet factory at the age of four for 12 USD (U.S dollars). He had to make carpets and work 14 hours a day and 7 days a week. If he made a mistake he was beaten, hung upside down and tortured. At the age of ten he escaped to the Bonded Labor Liberation Front and that made him want to stop child labour.

Iqbal gave speeches all around the world to help stop child labour. He would have to have a lot of perserverence and courage to speak in front of a LOT of people he didn't even know. He spoke with passion because he felt so strong about the subject.

This is why Iqbal inspires me. He helped stop child labour by bringing awareness to many people. If he didn't do that then many more children might be working in a carpet factory or being beaten right now. I am glad he did try to stop it.