The Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF) and its local partner Bon Pasteur Kolwezi are working to eradicate child labor and human rights violations in the mining areas of Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Bon Pasteur Centre is a ‘fundamental space that helps integrate child protection and empowerment into the development of the entire community, enhancing the overall impact of the programme’.
Children are assisted to leave work in the cobalt mines to develop their full potential, through age-appropriate, physical and intellectual activities, in schools and other secure community settings. Thanks to the Good Shepherd program , 4,800 children in Congo have quit the mines to attend school so far.
However, there are also many women and girls engaged in hazardous work in mines or forced into commercial sexual exploitation. The economic empowerment project provides them with basic education, health care and new skills training, thus helping them to become financially independent and not be forced into forced and premature marriages.
Since 2019, the Bon Pasteur Centre has offered assistance and protection for abused children and women and helped them in the prosecution of actions involving corporal punishment, neglect, sexual abuse and early and forced marriage.
In addition, the Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF) and Bon Pasteur Kolwezi work to improve the safety and quality of life of the local community, to eradicate the root causes of current abuse and exploitation.
In this regard, the alternative livelihood project provides technical training in agriculture and animal husbandry to community members. Through the creation of ten agricultural cooperatives, 870 new farmers now have an alternative livelihood to dangerous mining work.
Finally, a group of 14,000 community members are constantly involved in raising awareness about the mining code, human rights and responsibilities, community development, advocacy, and conflict management and resolution. Through these activities, communities are better able to lobby for better living and working conditions.
