The Gambia
Despite expansion of the tourist trade in recent years, The Gambia, Africa’s smallest country, remains one of its poorest. Health and education systems are weak and they are ranked 151/169 on UNDP’s Human Development Index.
With over half the population living on less than $2 a day many children have no choice but to become involved in hazardous forms of labour to support themselves or their families. It is estimated that over 96,000 children aged 10 to 14 are working in The Gambia and this continues to increase.
Some parents resort to sending their children to live in religious schools, believing they will be in safe hands and provided with the care they are unable to afford themselves. However, some of the teachers are unscrupulous and demand the children pay their way by forcing them to beg on the street or work on their farms.
Children forced into begging are trafficked to towns and cities, sometimes to neighbouring countries without parents’ knowledge. They miss out on the opportunity to get a basic formal education and compromise their prospects for a decent future.
Furthermore, tourism, whilst providing welcome income, also poses a risk to the welfare of children. In recent years The Gambia has seen an increase in the commercial exploitation of children, child sex tourism and child trafficking. And although positive changes have begun, with the introduction of codes of conduct to protect children, huge number of children still face horrifying risks.
Learn more about what ChildHope plans to do to support children in The Gambia.
What can you do to help children in The Gambia?
Donating to support ChildHope means you are helping to transform the lives of vulnerable children, including street and working children, as well as strenghtening local communities in Asia, Africa and South America.
