By Farid Kefel

In the heart of Lelepiama Kandu chiefdom in the Kenema district, a troubling reality unfolds as children are forced into hazardous conditions within the artisanal mines. The journey through the depths of the mining pits revealed a distressing scene where young children, some as tender as 15 years old, were immersed in back breaking labor without the protection and care they deserve. Covered in mud and left to fend for themselves, these children are deprived of a proper childhood, their innocence overshadowed by the harsh reality of exploitation.

Jusu, a teenager who is sixteen years old, shares his story that sheds light on the never-ending cycle of hopelessness caused by this harmful industry. Jusu’s heartbreaking account of losing everything and being left alone resonates across the region, where dreams of a brighter tomorrow fade away in the darkness of the mines. “I dream of becoming a doctor to help my family and community. I worked in the mines with my older cousins when there was no farm produce to sell. My aunt used the little money earned from these tasks to help pay for my education’’, Jusu said. 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified various forms of child labor that are particularly harmful to children’s well-being. These include activities such as work in mining operations.

The children living in areas where there is a lot of small-scale mining have tough skin on their hands. These hands and their fingers have become stronger from working hard, and they have wounds and bruises that have changed how they look. When asked what he needed the most, Jusu said, “I just want to be able to live like a normal child – go to school. I don’t have the things I need for school, like books, socks, bags and good food,” he said sadly”.

Many children are working and living in artisanal mines in various provinces of Sierra Leone. These children face a very different reality and take on adult responsibilities at a young age, often being cared for by relatives or being orphaned. The perspective from victims highlights the difficult conditions experienced by children in the Lelepiama Kandu chiefdom, where child labor exploitation is common. Jusu’s story reflects the challenges that many young people in the area face, being compelled to work in mines and perform strenuous tasks to sustain themselves and their families.

Fatmata, a young woman who shared her story with raw honesty, said, “In a fight for survival, I ended up on the streets, doing things at night with a friend. This eventually led me to become a sex worker, while still holding onto dreams of a career in nursing—a field I’ve been passionate about for a while”.

Zainab, a 17-year-old soon turning 18, shared her tragic tale. She revealed that her mother had passed away and her father was in Liberia, leaving her in the care of an uncle who married her off to a much older man when she was just a child. This unjust situation halted her education and shattered her dreams of a brighter future. “My mom died, dad is in Liberia. I live with an uncle, forced into marriage. No school, no dreams. Tears fell as baby played”.

 A report from the United States Department of State mentions that children are engaged in different mining activities. These activities include carrying sacks on their heads, filling sacks or basins with gravel, and washing and sifting gravel. These are considered to be among the most severe forms of child labor, as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO). In certain mining areas, children are tasked with running errands and bringing food to the miners. Unfortunately, in some instances, girls are forced into prostitution.

Kenema has alarming rates of child labor and trafficking, with vulnerable children being taken from their homes by relatives in search of a better life in the city. In Kenema district, approximately 29% of children are involved in child labor, indicating a major concern in protecting children’s rights and education in the region.

According to a recent report from the University of Georgia’s Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO), approximately 33% of children between the ages of 5 and 17 in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province have experienced child trafficking. Additionally, the research indicates that 36% of children in the same age group have been involved in child labor.

Kenema is rich in natural resources, with key minerals including diamonds, rutile, bauxite, gold, iron, and limonite being mined extensively. This mining activity often involves the exploitation of children, who are subjected to hazardous working conditions and are sometimes trafficked for labor purposes.

In a determined effort to combat child labor in Kenema District, Paramount Chief ,Sadiq Kapuwa, of Nongoma Chiefdom announced the implementation of stringent policies and regulations. “We have instituted policies to ensure the safety of children in artisanal mines. Fines and arrests will be imposed on those unlawfully employing children,” he stated.

Chief Kapuwa emphasized the collaboration with authorities, including the police, to enforce these laws and hold employers accountable. “We are making arrests and ensuring that children are protected,” he elaborated.

Conversations with local miners have provided valuable insights into the challenging conditions they encounter in their work. Joseph (a pseudonym), working in an artisanal site in Kandu, expressed his plight: “I am doing this because there are no jobs. I have to feed my children and care for my wife. It’s difficult, but better than nothing.”

Mohamed, a 19 year old sociology graduate now working in the mines, shared his frustrations: “After graduation, I couldn’t find a job. A friend suggested I join him in the mine. This is how I manage to make ends meet.”

Traditional community leader Mamie Salay, head of the Bondo “Sowe” society, highlighted another grim aspect: “Our kids are using drugs to escape the daily reality of life. We must stand up and protect our children.”

The chief justice of Kenema and the eastern region Judge Francis Banks underscored the importance of public awareness and swift action. “We are going after the culprits. Since my tenure, we’ve apprehended many criminals and protected children. I emphasize to journalists and authorities the urgency of this matter”, he asserted. “I do not take these cases lightly. Investigations and decisions will be made promptly to protect these kids.”

GOAL, an international humanitarian organization that helps vulnerable communities overcome crises and achieves long-term development. In Sierra Leone, GOAL has action plans to address child labor, aiming to protect children and tackle the root causes of this issue by improving education, economic opportunities and child protection systems. However, children in Sierra Leone are still at risk of severe forms of child labor, such as commercial sexual exploitation, due to poverty, lack of education access and inadequate family support systems.

One of the underage miners, named Karim, shared his story: “I started mining when I reached senior secondary school. Since I had no support to continue my education, I decided to work in the mines to pay for it because both my parents were in the village. I am here with my sick aunt who can’t take care of herself. Many of my classmates who couldn’t pay their fees also went to work in mines or other places to earn money for school.”

Trapped in a cycle of financial struggle and family responsibilities, these young miners give up their education to survive, facing dangerous work conditions without proper support or better options.

The chiefdom chairperson and counselor, Vandi Musa, expressed concern about the children in their community. “Many of these children come from impoverished families who cannot support them, forcing the children to work in mining fields to make money for school and their families. The community has been trying to address this crisis but it’s challenging without support”. He called for help from the Government and other organizations to provide necessities like bags, books, uniforms, food and shelter for these children. Counselor Vandi Musa emphasized the need to stop child labor and trafficking, citing poverty and hardships as the main causes.

“By working together and consistently speaking out, we can help improve the situation of these vulnerable children. This will create a future where every child can grow and succeed without being exploited or deprived”, Counselor Vandi emphasized.

The failure to protect the welfare of young individuals in Kenema is evident in the cases of child labor and trafficking. Many vulnerable minors are trafficked by relatives seeking prosperity, leading to a high dropout rate among school-aged children. This particularly affects girls, who face early pregnancies and challenges in pursuing education.

Sierra Leone has integrated international laws concerning child labor into its own laws, but businesses in the country are not fully complying with these regulations. Despite the adoption of these laws, children are still involved in dangerous labor practices. Some of the local laws derived from international ones include the Child Rights Act of 2007, Mines and Minerals Act of 2009, Employer and Employee Act of 1960, and Education Act of 2004.

In 2022, Sierra Leone passed a new law called the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act. This law sets a minimum sentence of 25 years for individuals found guilty of human trafficking. The law covers both sex trafficking and labor trafficking and are meant to enhance the fight against human trafficking in the country.

The US Department of Labour Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor revealed that Sierra Leone is a source, transit, and destination country for child trafficking for labor and commercial sexual exploitation. In Sierra Leone, there is also a type of internal child trafficking known as men pikin, which means foster care in Krio, one of the country’s local languages. This practice involves family members sending children to relatives in urban areas with promises of better educational opportunities, but some children end up being forced into labor such as street hawking, domestic work, mining, agriculture, scrap metal scavenging, and motorbike taxi driving. Some children sent to Koranic schools are also trafficked for labor exploitation.

Although the government has made efforts to provide free education up to secondary school, there are still significant barriers such as lack of schools and teachers, costs of uniforms and supplies, limited transportation to schools, and cases of sexual and gender-based violence by teachers and other students. Shockingly, a report by UNESCO – UNESDOC published in 2020, titled, Republic of Sierra Leone: Education sector analysis: assessing the enabling environment for gender equality revealed that some teachers demanded sex from students in exchange for higher grades. Moreover, unqualified teachers were removed from schools in rural communities without replacement, resulting in school closures. These challenges have led to a high dropout rate, especially among girls.

According to a database from the Organization for Artisanal Mining in Sierra Leone, artisanal mining is a significant industry supporting around 300,000 people and producing about USD 125 million worth of gold every year. The sector involves approximately 80,000 miners, mostly women, who are often exploited, leading to a cycle of poverty and hindering their development. Artisanal mining, alongside rutile and diamond production, plays a vital role in the country’s economy. Miners operate on 950 hectares of land to extract 2.9 tons of gold annually. Despite its economic importance, the sector faces challenges such as environmental impacts and regulatory issues.

Corruption in mining areas in Kenema, Sierra Leone, significantly impacts governance and economic stability. The 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report highlights that corruption and official complicity hinder efforts to combat human trafficking in Sierra Leone, including child trafficking. Additionally, a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, included in the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, discusses how corruption facilitates and fuels human trafficking, noting the existence of corruption at every step of the trafficking process.

The Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenema has been working to address both petty and grand corruption through initiatives like the “Pay No Bribe” Campaign launched in 2016. This campaign targeted corruption in five pilot areas, including Kenema, underscoring that corruption is a significant issue in the region.

Despite laws against child labor in Sierra Leone, mining operators often disregard regulations to make quick profits, exploiting impoverished families with limited financial options. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s reports on child labor, children in Sierra Leone are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in mining and commercial sexual exploitation.

Jusu’s story reflects the struggles faced by many young people in the community, who are forced into mining and hard work to support themselves and their families.

As the sun goes down and casts long shadows over the mines and the forgotten souls inside, it serves as a sad reminder of the unheard stories and the urgent necessity to stop the suffering of these innocent victims.