How NMO’s Child Labour Remediation Programme Brought Steady Income and Benefits for the Whole Family

In one of the DRC’s oldest artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) areas in the DRC, where poverty, informality and limited child protection systems leave children highly vulnerable, seven-year-old NMO began working in 2022, earning about $2 a day collecting minerals.

After her mother passed away in 2023, her father became the sole breadwinner for seven children and a fostered cousin. None could afford to go to school.

That changed in 2024 when NMO was identified and enrolled in the Child Labour Remediation (CLR) programme under the Child Rights Action Hub. The programme takes a holistic approach combining education support, livelihood assistance, and ongoing follow-up to achieve lasting benefits for the children and their families.

With a dedicated case manager overseeing her progress, NMO now attends school full-time, receives regular health care, and enjoys her childhood again. One of the programme’s most transformative impacts has been on her father, who was able to purchase a motorcycle through the financial support provided. The motorcycle has become a vital source of income as a taxi driver, giving the family new financial stability. This steady income is gradually lifting them out of extreme poverty and making it possible for NMO’s siblings to return to school next year.

“My daughter is developing well. I’m happy with the support we’re receiving from The Hub. I’m planning to send her siblings to school next year,” he says.

NMO’s story shows how practical, community-based remediation—paired with sustained case management—can transform entire families’ lives, reduce child labour, and build stronger, more responsible supply chains for businesses.