Child Miners of Guinea Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
At just 10-years old, Kamissa Berete started working at a gold mining site in Siguiri Village in North-Eastern of Guinea Bissau. Having been born in Siguiri, which is known for its goldsmiths, Kamissa began helping her family in the gold mines.
Fortunately for her, unlike other child miners, this did not prevent her from going to school. After completing her secondary education, she joined the Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Boke, Guinea (EIMG). This is the only Institute of technology in Niger dedicated to the formation of engineers and technicians and their educational disciplines expend into fields such as mining, geology, mechanical and civil engineering. “It is until I joined University that I learnt that gold mining destroys environment,” notes Kamissa.
After her University education, Kamissa went back to the mining sector to help raise concerns about various concerns in the sector especially those affecting women and children. This was done by engaging with various stakeholders in the extractive industries to emphasize on challenges women in the mining sector are facing. “Women in the mining sector need to be helped. We also need to talk about the children born by mothers in the mining sector, they need to go to school,” Kamissa notes.
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Thank you Kamissa for sharing your story. Keep up the good advocacy work you are carring out.
This is why representation matters. Its great that you are bringing to light the special challenges faced by women in your field. I hope the issue of child labor in mining can also be rectified. All the best in your advocacy!
Its unfortunate that children have to work at such a you g age in some countries. Well done Kamissa for going back to school and using your acquired knowledge to help others. Keep up the good work.