Creuseurs avec Bêche ou sans Bêche : Comprendre le travail des enfants et ses conséquences dans les mines d'or à Luhihi

Abstract

This article analyzes child labor in the Luhihi mining site and provides a typology of the activities they engage in, as well as the motivations behind their rush towards the mining resources. The results of this article are based on a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews, observation, and group discussions. Since 2020, many inexperienced children have decided to engage in gold mining activities in Luhihi, partly due to the context in which the gold deposit was discovered, which made their strong presence possible in the mining site. In addition, the mine has emerged as a palliative for the idleness that most children have found themselves in due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On the mining site, children engage in various activities. Some are directly involved in the mining supply chain as diggers with a shovel, while others are involved in mining craft activities without a shovel. However, their level of remuneration does not match the services they provide to the artisanal community. Furthermore, they are exposed to diseases and other forms of physical and moral consequences. The mine constitutes a new socialization environment for these children and a new space for education. However, despite the presence of a permanent framework and the multiple initiatives already undertaken by the actors, the evacuation of children from the Luhihi mining site raises questions about the conditions for the applicability of such a process, its effectiveness, and its sustainability.