Child Labour Remediation in the DRC: Davu’s Return to Education and Reduced Financial Burden for His Family

Davu* is a 12-year-old boy living in the Kapata community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Like many children his age, he enjoys school and playing soccer with his friends. However, like many others in the DRC, he faced pressure to work due to poverty. He began working at a local mine. Recent data reveals that approximately 17.4% of children aged 5 to 14 in the DRC are engaged in work, while 68.8% are attending school, while 16.3% of children aged 7 to 14 are balancing both work and school (Source: dol.gov).

This aligns with findings from The Centre and Save the Children’s study on child labour in DRC’s informal mining communities, which revealed that one out of six children are working. 44% of these working children are involved in artisanal and small-scale mining to help cover their own school fees and those of their siblings, while 72% of working children aged 15-17 in ASM communities are employed as artisanal miners because of a lack of alternative job opportunities.

At the mine, Davu collected stones and sold them to traders for a small amount of money. This job exposed Davu and his friends to extremely dangerous conditions that harmed their physical and psychological health, trapping them and their families in a cycle of poverty.

Davu comes from a large family that includes two parents and six siblings. Out of the children, only four were able to attend school – the two youngest had to stay at home because the family couldn’t afford the school fees. With 73.5% of the DRC’s population living below the poverty line (Source: World Bank), Davu’s family faced similar challenges, relying on his father, an artisanal miner, who earned about USD 3.49 per day, an income under the recommended living wage of USD 5.68, to support the family. This financial struggle prompted Davu to work at the quarry.

Efforts to support families in artisanal and small-scale (ASM) communities in the DRC are ongoing but no one actor can solve the deep-rooted, systemic issue of child labour on their own. This is where The Hub for Child Labour Prevention and Remediation (‘The Hub’) plays a crucial role. Its child labour remediation programme delivers long-term benefits and positive change for the children involved and their families by collaborating with local stakeholders, including NGOs, the local government and child rights experts. To date, it has trained and built a network of 25 case managers who support ongoing cases and tap into the resources of six organisations that are part of the Hub’s organisational structure. The Hub also engages buyers and brands using cobalt in their products to invest in the programme as part of their human rights due diligence.

Davu was selected for The Hub’s child labour remediation programme, which provided him with an opportunity to concentrate on his education. In June 2023, he began the programme, starting with a medical check-up to ensure his health was not harmed after working in the quarry. Following this, he enrolled in public school to continue his education in grades 7 and 8.

Educational challenges are significant in the DRC, with nearly 30% of children dropping out before completing primary school to work (Source: unicef.org). However, through The Hub’s child labour remediation and prevention programme, Davu received enough financial support for school fees and materials, allowing him to focus on his studies. In this supportive environment, he thrived and rediscovered his love for learning.

Thanks to The Hub's monthly living allowance, Davu’s family was also able to meet their basic needs without the pressure of financial burdens. His mother expressed her gratitude, saying,