By Elephant group- Voices of North Mara Youth
There is a need to create community awareness on the dangers caused by
artisanal and small- scale mining (ASM) activities, a latest survey by Voices
of North Mara Youth recommends.
“
Many do not understand the harm
of breathing dust generated during
artisanal and small scale mining process and
the use of mercury ”, reads part of the survey conducted by Voices of
North Mara Youth students from Bwirege secondary school peace club recently.
The
survey was aimed at identifying reasons that push some children in villages
surrounding North Mara Gold Mine to work in artisanal and small scale mining
areas instead of attending school.
The report further recommends that, villages living in artisanal and
small scale mining areas should be encouraged to focus on sustainable economic
generating activities that do not put their lives in danger.
“Through
education, the community members should be encouraged to choose less harmful
ways of creating income, like farming or cattle rearing”, the report states.
According to
the survey poverty and lack of alternative employment are the major factors
driving children and youth to engage in ASM (Artisanal and Small Scale Mining)
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A villager fills a questionnaire
recently when students belonging to Elephant group from Ingwe secondary peace
club were conducting survey to identify reasons that push children to work in
artisanal and small scale mining areas (photo by Nyangi Mohanga- Voices of
North Mara Youth)
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