Sikasso city in Mali has become the hub of regional child trafficking in West Africa. This has been confirmed in a study presented by terre des hommes in spring 2000. Ten thousands of children from Mali and Burkina Faso are forced to work on fields of the Ivory Coast. They toil up to as many as 14 hours daily - without being paid for their work. On attempting to escape, they are punished with brutal violence.
Terre des hommes supports the organisation »Mali Enjeu«, which brings these children, victims of child trafficking, back to their villages and families. These children are initially accommodated in the project’s own centre where they are looked after and also receive psychological care if necessary. Thereafter, the children are accompanied by one of the organisation’s staff members and brought back to their villages.
Besides the support for victims, »Mali Enjeu« also carries out activities for the prevention of child trafficking: the organisation informs the village people about the dangers of child trafficking and offers courses in handicrafts. As the staff of Mali-Enjeu know »A good vocational training is the best protection against traffickers“.
