How long has slavery existed? After thousands of years, why does it still exist? Today, 27 million people are enslaved. Considering that 6 billion people currently live on Earth, we can conclude that 1 out of every 222 people are enduring the brutality of slavery. Since we know that 50% of those who are enslaved are children, we can also conclude that 1 out of 444 people on this Earth is a child slave. In Ghana, 800,000 children are enslaved—that means that 1 out of 34 child slaves are children in Ghana.

On Monday April 14, 2008, Metuchen High School, in Metuchen, NJ, held a discussion on this very subject. The 11th grade students from Mr. Robbins’ class put together a documentary and fundraiser to benefit child slaves in Ghana through IOM (International Organization of Migration). The IOM program is aimed to end the cycle of slavery by freeing children. It takes $4,256 to rescue a child, provide living arrangements, food, school and medical care for 2 years. Also, the enslavers (often former child slaves) and the parents (who are in abject poverty and sell their children to earn money for needed food) are educated on the dangers of child slavery and provided with employable skills and tools, so that the need for child slavery is eliminated. These children usually range from 5 years to 17 years of age. To view the documentary please visit mhsghanaproject.com For more information on freeing a child slave please visit iom.int

The need for releasing our neighbors around the globe from poverty is pivotal to ending the cycle of slavery. How can we end poverty? We can buy fair trade products, buy only what we need, volunteer at food banks and Habitat for Humanity builds, attend rallies and walkathons benefitting those in real need, become informed and share the information, call/write to elected government officials, see documentaries about slavery, and remember those who are enslaved.

On Friday, April 18, 2008, a discussion concerning child slaves in Africa is scheduled at the Caldwell Women’s Club in Caldwell, NJ. For more information please email Randi Brokman at progdir@agudath.org

A 5K run/walk to benefit child slaves in Ghana, organized by Mr. Robbins’ class of the Metuchen High School, is scheduled for May 4, 2008. For more information please visit mhsghanaproject.com

Related links

invisiblechildren.com
thanksgivingcoffee.com
drbronner.com
tenthousandvillages.com
madebysurvivors.com
ciw-online.org (coalition of Immokalee workers)
anti-slaverysociety.addr.com
iabolish.org
habitat.org