Fatshimetrie, June 23, 2024 – Significant progress has been made in the fight against child labor in the artisanal cobalt mines of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, the project to support the alternative well-being of children and young people involved in the supply chain has enabled the school reintegration of 13,587 children, representing approximately 91% of the miners identified.
Under the coordination of Alice Mirimo, the Pabea-Cobalt project has set up a comprehensive mechanism to ensure the successful reintegration of these children. In addition to school registration, the children received health and psychological support and were registered with the civil registry. In addition, school kits were distributed and school fees were covered for the 2023-2024 school year.
A holistic approach was adopted, also aimed at supporting the parents or guardians of the reintegrated children. Youth agribusiness entrepreneurship promotion centers are being built to provide sustainable economic opportunities for affected families.
The Pabea-Cobalt project, led by the Congolese government through the National Fund for Promotion and Social Service, plans to expand its activities to other minerals such as gold, coltan, cassiterite, diamonds, copper and lithium. By taking this path, the authorities aim to definitively eradicate child labor in mines, while ensuring a transition to more sustainable economic activities such as agribusiness.
Ultimately, nearly 14,850 children should be reintegrated, accompanied by the economic reconversion of more than 6,250 households and young people working in the artisanal mining sites of Lualaba. Through this initiative, the Congolese government hopes to completely clean up its mineral supply chain and ultimately eliminate all forms of child labor in these sensitive sectors.
The Pabea-Cobalt program is thus establishing itself as a major lever for social and economic transformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, supported by a dedicated and competent team under the technical leadership of the Social Fund of the Republic. This fight against the exploitation of children in mines is a crucial step towards a brighter future for Congolese youth.