This morning you can help pupils of Tahatai Coast School break the chains that keep children bonded into a life of servitude.

The Ruru Whānau (Year 5 and 6) pupils will be running their Chain Breaker fundraiser in selected areas of Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa in a bid to raise money for World Vision's ‘Born to Be Free' project.

Leon Fredrichberg breaking one of the links in Tauranga's Red Square this morning. Photos: David Tauranga.

Groups of pupils will be down at Tauranga's Red Square, Mount Maunganui Main Street and Main Beach, Papamoa Plaza and Pak 'n Save Papamoa, from 9.30am to 12pm.

Each group will have with them a 150 link metal chain and will ask members of the public to break one link of the chain using bolt cutters for a $1 donation.

'If we can completely destroy one of the metal chains we will have enough money to set one child free,” says Ruru Whānau team leader Craig McDonald.

'We've learned for about $150 we can repay a family's debt, setting their child free and giving them the chance to get an education and escape the cycle of child labour and poverty.”

Craig says the theme for the pupils' learning this year has been ‘Making Waves', while this term in particular it's about ‘Making Waves Around The World'.

This has seen Ruru Whānau pupils both examine the global issue of child labour closely as well as discover ways in which they could have an impact.

Worldwide there's about 200 million children in bonded labour, often a result of to their families' crippling debts, and compounded by exorbitant interest rates offered from unscrupulous money lenders, says Craig.

'The pupils were shocked, I don't think they realised that this kind of thing was happening in the world. They were even more shocked when they realised most of their clothes were more than likely made by children trapped in situations like that.

'But we've also noticed a sense of empowerment when they've realised they have the ability to do something about this. They're really happy to be helping, and something as physical as breaking an actual chain, I think that's what's really excited their imaginations.”

Tahatai Coast School Room 16 students in Tauranga's Red Square. The school's Year 5 and 6 pupils Chain Breaker fundraiser which is taking place today aims to highlight the global issue of child labour.

Liquorland Harrington Street's Leon Fredrichberg was one member of the public who donated to the students' cause this morning.

He believes the Chain Breaker fundraiser is a great idea and described the feeling of breaking one of the links as 'very satisfying”.

'I've got some kids in primary school and they're forever fundraising for themselves, but not too often for causes like that. It's a very good idea and I think it's something kids should be learning to do more often,' says Leon.

If you are unable to make it down to one of the five locations this morning would still like to contribute visit the Ruru Whānau's Giveallitle page at: givealittle.co.nz/cause/childlabourchainbreakers#