While the young men dig for gold, women and girls wash the earth or sell food and drink in the gold mines. Some prostitute themselves to earn a little extra money.
Serious accidents at work due to spillages in the tunnels or poisoning from the chemicals used are the dangers of this hard labour. Women and young people are subordinate to the men, who often exploit them as labour or sexually. The climate in these gold mines is often characterised by violence. Sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies are often the result, which the particularly defenceless girls and women have to bear.
The aim of the project is to ensure that women, young people and children feel safe in the gold mines and are not exploited. The focus is on protecting and empowering children, young people and women.
The project is setting up protection committees in each of the four gold mines. They are each made up of 6 men, women and young people who are elected by the community and trained for their role. They carry out legal and health education activities in the gold mines and also act as a point of contact for residents in cases of violence and health problems. They are in contact with the health, social and justice systems via a telephone network so that they can react and intervene quickly. The municipalities are also integrated into this network and are responsible for maintaining it.
The project is being implemented in two municipalities in the Plateau Central region. The target group is around 1,300 children and 1,300 young people as well as 770 women in four gold mines. AVSD also works with four groups of 15 men who are trained as 'agents of change' in dealing with violence and work with the men in the gold mines. Around 9,000 men and boys from the gold mines and the population of the two communities (43,000) are also reached indirectly.
Partner organisation: AVSD (Association pour la Santé communautaire et le Développement )
Project phase : 1.9.2021 - 31.8.2024
