Guinea: childhood shattered by gold mining
Guinea is Africa's 5th largest gold producer, and its mines fuel the national and global economy. In the mining regions of Siguiri, in the northeast of the country, many children work all day with their parents to try to improve their living conditions. In these regions, most families live in very precarious situations. Some NGOs are raising awareness to combat the exploitation of children, but the challenges remain complex. According to the UN, 68% of children in Guinea work from the age of 7. Many of them drop out of school to work in the mines, where they are exposed to conditions that threaten their health and safety.
