On 29 September, 2022, YONECO facilitated a community dialogue meeting on child labour prevention in the mining sector at Chiyenda Usiku in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Nsamala in Balaka district.
The meeting was a response to community members who reported to the child labour practices in various mining sites that are in the area.
Community members complained that the vice has led to an increase in the number of children who are dropping out of school. Further to this, the concerned community members also indicated that the preverent child labour practices in the mines have led to alcohol and substance abuse among young people in the area as well.
Community members and various stakeholders agreed to conduct a sweeping excercise to withdraw all children who are working in the mines.
The meeting was attended by 65 community members of which 44 were women and 21 were men. The group also comprised of traditional leaders and representatives of various community rights groups including; child protection committees, mother groups and community policing forums.
At district level, the meeting was attended by the Police as well as officers from the Department of Social Welfare and District Labour Office.
