The Paper Bag Game

Hard Labour….

$1 a day

• There are 500 million workers who survive on $1 a day. This is to support their family.

• Many of these workers are children.

In 2002. . .

• There were an estimated 250 million children between 5 and 14 who were part of the work force

Playing the Game

You will be divided into groups

• Each group represents a family living in a crowded and poor shanty town in Calcutta

There is a huge demand for paper bags.

• lt is mainly the women and children of the poorest families who make them.

• Some buy paper from local warehouses called ‘go-downs’

• In real life bags are sold in batches of 22 called gistas

• On average the payment is 1.5 rupees per gista

You have 20 minutes

• To make as many bags as you can.

• You have a sheet telling you how to make these.

• When you have made 10 take them to the banker

• If the banker is happy you will be paid 1 rupee

Beware!

• Chance cards will be introduced during the game

• The price or size may change

Will you survive?

• We will work out from your results how much you would have earnt in a week

• Can you afford to feed your family?

Evaluation

• Did you earn enough to survive? How did you feel?

• How did your group organise your work?

• Could you have made more bags if you worked in a different way?

• Did you work with another group?

Why do children work?Why do children work?

■ PovertyPoverty■ Family situationFamily situation■ Social PositionSocial Position■ Attitude to workAttitude to work■ The demand for cheap labourThe demand for cheap labour