Save the Children, a leading humanitarian organisation for children has stressed the crucial role everyone must play in stopping underage children from engaging in illegal mining activities.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the impact of mining on children, Save the Children Country Director Jo Musonda stated that laws alone are insufficient, as illegal activities persist despite legal frameworks.
Ms. Musonda highlighted that mining companies are supplementing government efforts through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by building skills training facilities for young people in communities. She urged families to actively discourage their children from accessing mining sites due to their dangerous nature, pointing out that children often do not fully comprehend the hazards involved.
She called for increased sensitisation and awareness campaigns to educate communities about these dangers. Additionally, Ms. Musonda stressed the importance of mining firms investing more in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to give back to the communities where they operate.
