Volunteers helped launch the audio-visual activities and led a discussion after the projection of two documentary films

Plan Togo is carrying out Protect 3 campaign to publicise the problem of child trafficking. The project aims to combat trafficking, exploitation and abuse against children through the Promotion of Education and Capacity Building. This allows for better protection of more children’s lives and provides them with equal chances for participation.

The project which started on 1st March 2010 is now spreading its range with audio- visual activities launched on 30th October in the Tchalo village, in the Tchaoudjo district of central Togo, to help children victims of trafficking. The celebration gathered traditional authorities, religious and opinion leaders of the Tchalo community and surrounding areas as well as Plan Togo staff.

Raising awareness through social media

The activities started at Radio Tchaoudjo with a live radio show, which was also broadcasted by five other radio stations across Togo and reached nearly 700,000 people. The show is broadcast from 8 to 9 pm every day and co-hosted by popular radio journalists: Tchaoudjo and Venus. It focuses on Protect 3 project, raises awareness about child trafficking in the community, and discusses how to protect children from traffickers. 

Two documentary films about child trafficking premiered at the celebration. The first one “The Price of the Bike” details the sale and recruitment of children by traffickers in exchange for a new bike. For a total of 40,000 to 60,000 CFA francs (less than 100 euros), children are sold into modern-day slavery, hard labour, lack of education, food and health care for a period of 2 years. Many of the children do not survive. The second documentary “Children's Work in a Quarry” was recorded with a hidden camera and shows children, aged 8 to15, working in a quarry, crushing gravel used in road oiling.

One child who survived trafficking, Kofi*, shared his story. “I was in the 5th grade of elementary school before being recruited by a trafficker. I was unaware of the real situation; I thought I was taking advantage of a great opportunity to make money. Two years later, I came home sick and empty-handed. All of my old classmates were still in school and happy with their families.” 

A crowd of more than 4,000 people (about 50% children and 50% adults) watched both films, discussed them for about three-hours felt better about the dangers of trafficking.

Working together to combat trafficking

The public took active part in the discussion on child trafficking

Child trafficking is a complex problem present in most of the 15 members States of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), including Togo. To address the problem, ECOWAS Member States signed a memorandum of cooperation in the fight against child trafficking. In 2006, in Togo, the problem of child trafficking affected 34.8% of children, aged 5 to 14, which represents nearly 490,000 children.

The Plan Protect 3 project helps children restore their lives and educates communities about trafficking to protect children. Protect 3 operates in 100 communities where Plan works in Togo and Benin and is funded through a partnership between Belgium National Office, Plan Togo and Plan Benin. The project ends on 28th February 2013.

The protection of children from trafficking is one of Plan International’s operational goals. Plan Togo has been working towards this goal since 1988, helping 9,000 children in the past five years stay away from trafficking and violence while increasing access to education, healthcare and opportunities.

* Name changed for child protection reasons.