Our Impact
Photo: living conditions around the mines in Kolwezi. © The Centre for Child Rights and Business.
Ana's upbringing was defined by struggle, navigating poverty and a fragmented family. With her father absent and her mother residing in a town miles away due to remarriage, Ana found stability with her grandparents in Kolwezi, DRC.
Financial hardship led Ana to join her grandparents in the local artisanal mine, where she spent long hours collecting and washing mineralised ore. She earned a meagre USD 50 per month, far below the average living wage. Despite the toil, she was determined to continue supporting her family.
The intervention of the remediation programme changed Ana’s path. Due to the hazardous nature of her work, she underwent a medical check and was enrolled in a 35-month remediation programme. This programme ensured she could continue her education from Grades 9 to 11, with a monthly stipend to cover her living costs so she no longer had to consider working in the mines.
Returning to school, Ana found renewed purpose. She excelled as a student and had a clear vision for her future– never to step into a mine again.
The remediation programme offered Ana hope during difficult times. Throughout the programme, she received support and guidance from her case manager. The emergency fund provided crucial help when she needed it most, and the education will equip her with the necessary skills to change the trajectory of her family’s financial struggles.
Setting her sights on becoming an electrician and grateful for the opportunities afforded by the remediation programme, Ana pledged to see it through to the end.
"I’m happy to be part of this remediation programme as it helps me to continue school and lead a normal life as a child. I’ll be involved in the [remediation] programme until I complete school."
Ana’s path to a promising future is only possible through private sector investments in The Hub for Child Labour Prevention and Remediation, which aims to provide long-term support to children in artisanal and small-scale mining communities.
The Hub for Child Labour Prevention and Remediation, known in short as "The Hub", was established by The Centre for Child Rights and Business in 2022 with support from Save the Children Germany and the Fair Cobalt Alliance. It is set up as an association with seven local CSOs to build a strong local network of child rights practioners. The Hub’s case managers are trained staff from within these organisations and The Hub’s growing network is designed to remediate cases that need immediate support while supporting long-term preventative mechanisms in collaboration with other NGOs and the government.
More information:
Website: https://www.clrhub.org
Email: info@childrights-business.org
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