"They respect their animals more"

Before moving to Mwanza, I did not know what a widespread problem child domestic labor is in countries like Tanzania. According to Anti-Slavery International, a “child domestic worker” is defined as a child under 18 performing domestic labor in a household other than their own, often in exploitive conditions". 

Some of the street children I’ve worked with in the last few months have run away from such situations. Sometimes it’s because one or both parents have died of AIDS, or because their mothers cannot support all their children and send them to live with an aunt or uncle so they can “have a better life”. 

In the worst cases, these children are denied access to school, forced to cook, clean, tend crops, carry water, care for younger children or risk beatings and starvation. One Tanzanian boy interviewed by Anti-Slavery International said that his “employers” “respect their animals more.”  Obviously the potential for sexual abuse in such an environment, for both boys and girls is--well you can imagine.

Sadly, in many places like Mwanza, the problem stays entrenched simply because it’s not seen as a problem. In fact, for girls, early entry into domestic labor is considered normal preparation for their main role in society: to keep house and raise children. 

Last weekend I had the opportunity to meet with a French lawyer who works with Anti-Slavery International. Tanzania was one stop on a multi-country tour to support NGOs that are working to improve the lives of child domestic workers. During these country visits, she spends some of her time meeting with former and current child domestic workers--to hear their stories, to provide training in organizing and to connect them to organizations like Kivulini for help.

We talked about the potential of me doing some English and leadership lessons for the older children. We’ll see what happens...