ChACLaT Ambassadors Educate Young People and Community Members on Child Labour and Trafficking

As part of efforts to curb the menace of Child labour and Trafficking in some fishing communities along the coast of Ghana, Curious Minds built the capacities of some Children Against Child Labour and Trafficking (ChACLaT), to in turn, educate other young people and their communities on the adverse effects of the practice and where they can report such cases to make sure perpetrators are brought to book.

 These communities are Chorkor, Tema Newtown and Azizanya in Ada.  The ambassadors formed groups of which each group has at least 10 members meeting once every week where they can comfortably share their thoughts and concerns. The ambassadors engaged the members in discussions on child labour, child trafficking and gender-based violence due to the increasing rate of the act in their communities.

In Chorkor, the Assembly Member for the area, Honorable Theophilus Quaye was present at group discussions ensuring that the sapce was safe for everyone to contribute effectively. During the group discussion, Naa, a group member from Chorkor asked if helping her parents at their shop beyond 8pm is a form of child labour. She further mentioned that some of her peers who didn’t want to assist their parents late at night were being criticised as disobedient and disrespectful and some members of the community barely allowed their wards to befriend them because they feel they might be influenced to do same.

In all the communities, the ambassadors educated both the young people and community members on some human rights institutions such as the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CJRAJ) and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), explaining to them some of the key roles these institutions play in combating the situation. Some members of the community spoke about how the condition of such facilities were not in good shape, making it difficult to access them when they have to. Some also added that there wasn’t enough privacy to lodge their complaints since some the offices are shared by two or more different units.

“I am very grateful and excited to see these young ambassadors educating their peers and members of the community. With this, people will get to understand the impact of child labour and trafficking on children and the society”, said Nene Kabutey Otiboe, the Chief fisherman of Azizanya expressing how excited he is to see the ChACLaT ambassadors actively educating people and creating awareness in the community.

In wrapping up the activities, community leaders advised parents and community members to allow their wards take part in the group discussions at all times. Nene Kabutey Otiboe encouraged the ambassadors to keep up with the advocacy to create awareness in the community.