Slavery

Worst forms of Child labour: What’s it like working in a gold mine in Burkina Faso?

Learning objectives:

To develop empathy with working children in Burkina Faso by role playing the mine situation
To question why young children are working in a mine at all
To recognise this as a "worst form of child labour" (ILO)
To identify what basic rights are being denied in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

You will need:

Copy of Gold Mine script
Down the Mine template (optional)
Photo of Amadou, aged 10

(all from ‘Working Children Worldwide- Save the Children 2004 p. 52-4, available from CGE)

UNICEF pupil booklet on UNCRC outlining basic rights (free from UNICEF or CGE)

Time required:
45-60 minutes

Instructions:

Read the Gold Mine script with pupils imagining what its like to work in a gold mine
Pupils complete ‘Down the mine’ worksheet (optional)
Use hot seating for pupils to feedback on experience
Explain these are real conditions in which some children in Burkina Faso work and identify it as a "worst form of child labour" as defined by the International Labour Organisation
Raise what rights are being denied to these children? Pupils in 2/3’s then use UNICEF booklet of basic rights to list rights being denied

Final Discussion:

What was most unpleasant about the experience?
Despite this why might a child work as a gold miner?
Should it be against the law?
If it is illegal how would Amadou and his family survive?
Should people who buy gold jewellery be able to find out who dug out the gold?

Extension Activity:

Read Gilbert’s story and answer the questions

Gilbert speaks for child workers

"My name is Zoe-Wendsongo Gilbert Ouédraogo and I am 17. I live in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, with my mother and 12 brothers and sisters. My father died three years ago.

"I am a member of the Association des Enfants et Jeunes Travailleurs du Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso Child and Young Workers' Association). This year, I was elected as a delegate of the child workers. I was asked to attend a meeting in New York in preparation of the UN General Assembly Special Session on children. Save the Children told me about the film they wanted to make about child miners. I wanted to know more about the living and working conditions of other child workers outside Ouagadougou.

"I have never worked in the mines but I've learnt a lot. At first I did not know that there were children working in mining. In fact, I didn't even know that there were gold mines in Burkina Faso. Now I can say more about child miners and the hardships of child workers in our country.

"Child miners are exposed to many dangers. Firstly, they can hurt themselves with their work tools. Secondly, the galleries [where they work] can cave in anytime. Thirdly, they work without any protection. They can catch tuberculosis because they are always in the dust. The place is also quite dirty, so they can catch cholera. They have no money, so they have very little food. Because of that, they are weak but still they work too much.

"We have met the government officials in the Dori region to explain the working conditions of the children. We have asked them to help these children find other activities that are better than mining. We have also talked to parents to convince them not to send their children to work in the gold mines.

"In fact, most of the child miners do not have a choice. They are obliged to work there to try and get some money for their family, otherwise they have no food. If they do not go to the gold mines they will face an even poorer life. We want better protection of child workers.

"The government should ban child labour in the mines. But they should open training centres to teach children carpentry, mechanics, welding and many other useful skills. These illegal mines are dangerous, they should be closed down.

"The government should help families to develop other activities that can provide them with money so that they can take care of their children. They must provide medical care to child workers and ensure that there is enough safe water for all. Children need to go to school; the government should open more schools that they can attend free of charge.

Gilbert hopes the film highlighting the plight of child miners will prompt world leaders to help bring an end to child labour. As one young campaigner explains: "Gold is precious. But we are more precious than that gold."

List the suggestions Gilbert makes for action by the Burkina Faso government?
Can the government do all this on its own? Who could help?
Which MDGs do Gilbert’s suggestions refer to?

Young miners in Burkina Faso