This campaign has now closed
Bilo Wanalher: “My children were taken away by the Chief, but people helped me to get them back. One of my children was taken away in the presence of all the people.” Groundbreaking integrated schools, educating slave children together with the children of "masters" aim to break the bonds of discrimination and inequality that keep them enslaved. Using a curriculum that emphasizes equality and human rights, together with specially trained teachers, we have already in our made real progress with 73% of children in the first year passing their end of year exams. Much of the funding has been secured from Comic Relief but additional funds are necessary if schools, children and their families are to be adequately supported.
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Niger has about 40,000 people still living in conditions of slavery, subject to the total control of their master, and forced to spend every waking moment tending to his or her demands. Although slavery was formally criminalised in 2003 deeply entrenched attitudes mean that the practice persists. Anti-Slavery International aims through community schools to empower slave communities to bring about changes to their lives. Children will for the first time have access to education, while their parents will be supported to gain an independent living through a micro credit scheme. The schools will provide the children with their only break from otherwise permanent work for their masters and providing slave children with a primary education greatly increases their chances of achieving a livelihood outside of slavery.This project is benefiting not only the 234 children currently enrolled, but also providing a model for other schools and communities to show that equality and respect between different groups is possible. We plan to open a further three schools, each enrolling approximately 50 more children, over the next three years. We need £490 per child to run the freedom through education project in Niger for a year. It costs • £90 to buy canteen supplies to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for ten children for month. • £437 to make five hour long local radio broadcasts that change attitudes to slavery. • £1,000 to pay the salaries of teachers and social workers in five schools for a month.