Teens' Efforts Give Soccer Balls the Boot

By LUCILLE RENWICK, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

NORTH HILLS--What began as a class project on international law has transformed two dozen Monroe High School students into outspoken soldiers in the growing war against child labor around the world.

The teenagers, who attend the school's law and government magnet, took their research to the Los Angeles Board of Education, persuading trustees to halt the purchase of soccer balls from Pakistan and other countries believed to be using child workers. The Monroe students are among a growing crop of young people speaking out against the harsh treatment of others in their generation.

"Basically, this project taught me that one person can change things," said Monroe senior Amy Messigian, one of six girls who spoke before the school board this month.

The idea of children spending their days making soccer balls instead of playing with them deeply troubled Monroe students Sharon Paulson and Gabriella Vega, both members of Monroe's girls soccer team.

"We ran out during one practice and we were checking all the balls and they all said, 'Made in Pakistan,' " Sharon said. "That kind of made everything more real. Before, it was something that we read about, but then it was like, 'We won a city championship using these balls.' It gave us something to fight for."

Monroe teacher Mark Elinson started his students thinking about young workers this fall, using research he had collected over the summer. He hoped the topic would touch students and hold their interest long enough to complete a three-week research project. So far, it has lasted most of the semester.

"This project took on many interesting turns," Elinson said. "In just a matter of days, the kids found all of this information and from their interest it skyrocketed and everything just took off from there."

The students sought information from the Internet as well as several national and international organizations. Much of their research focused on Pakistan, which produces 80% of the soccer balls imported into the United States, according to the Washington-based International Labor Rights Fund.

They also learned that the Los Angeles Unified School District buys more than 800 soccer balls a year, although officials say they do not know how many are made by children.

The students found two main sources of inspiration for their work. The first was the story of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani who had been sold into bondage as a child to work as a carpet weaver. He escaped six years later and was an outspoken voice against child labor until he was assassinated in 1995 at age 13.

The students also learned of 13-year-old Craig Kielburger of Canada, who has started an international youth movement, Free the Children, to end child labor, especially in the making of soccer balls.

For the Monroe High students, many of whom grew up playing the sport, joining the campaign seemed a natural focus for their class project. "We decided soccer balls would be a good source because we could speak through [Free the Children]," said senior Nicole Perez.

They began petitioning government officials, and, in the process, slowly developing into political activists.

The students sent letters, encouraging officials to take a stand against child labor. The topic was aired on KCRW's "Which Way L.A." radio program, with one of the students as a guest. Their work moved the City Council to unanimously approve a motion by Councilman Richard Alarcon to investigate the production of soccer balls made in countries using child labor.

Alarcon's daughter, Andrea, is a student in Elinson's class and participated in the project.

They sent another letter to school board member Julie Korenstein--whose district includes North Hills--prompting a reply from the superintendent's office and an invitation to speak before the Board of Education.

"I was thrilled to see a group of students being so interested in international issues and most of all caring about other students and children of the world," said Korenstein, who became an ally of the students.

The reaction, however, was not all favorable.

More than a dozen Middle Eastern and Islamic groups telephoned Korenstein to complain that the students were unfairly targeting child labor in Pakistan. The protests prompted Korenstein and the students to make their proposal to the school board more general, dropping the specific mention of Pakistan.

At the board meeting this month, the students also were chastised by board member Barbara Boudreau, who called their initial efforts "mean-spirited." She said their research should have included problems of child labor in all countries.

Students said the criticism was unfair. "We chose Pakistan because [of what] our research showed," said Monroe student Nicole Perez. "I think it is a false accusation to say we are mean- spirited. . . . Our intention was to stop child labor . . . and we worked very hard to pass this motion."

In the end the students got what they came for, as well as the respect of all the school board members.

"It is all too rare that high school kids in our district come before us on any issue at all," former board President Mark Slavkin told them at the meeting. "I hope your experience inspires you to do more in a variety of areas, but will inspire other students around the district to maybe become aware of this and understand that they're empowered and can have a voice." The students plan to do more through a group they have formed, Students Against Kid Exploitation.

"We've been discussing the idea with other classes and it turns out that other students are interested in this as well, so we want to try and get something passed in the state Legislature," said Sharon Paulson.

Given what they've accomplished, the students said the goal does not seem so farfetched.

"What we've done between the Board of Education and the City Council is far more than we ever expected would come of the project," said student Vilija Gulbinas.

Added Amy Messigian: "When you hear about things like this, it's usually someone else who's doing this major thing, and it's never you."

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