Child labor in Africa

Child Labor in Côte d’Ivoire: A Weight Lifted

Giving girls the chance to trade labor for learning

On a sunbaked street in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, a small sewing workshop buzzes with activity. Between rows of thread and fabric, young women once burdened by child labor are now building skills—and reclaiming their futures.

Among them is Mimi*, a teenager who once worked as a tantie bagage—a practice in Côte d’Ivoire in which young girls, some as young as six, carry heavy loads at markets to earn money for food or school fees. Like thousands of girls across the country, Mimi was working long hours instead of learning in a classroom.

“I used to feel tired all the time, and I couldn’t imagine anything else for myself,” she says. “Now, I feel confident about my future and my family. One day, I want to open my own business.”

Child labor and poverty: A complex web

Tantie bagage is one of many forms of child labor in West Africa, driven by deep-rooted poverty, gender inequality and lack of access to education. In Côte d’Ivoire alone, an estimated 1.5 million children are engaged in child labor, according to the latest ILO data. Most of them come from families who have few other options.

“One of the greatest challenges to ending child labor here is understanding that there’s never just one cause,” says Mamadou Diakite, director of SOS Children’s Villages’ family strengthening program in Yamoussoukro. “It’s tied to survival. Families are doing what they can—but with the right support, we can help them choose a better path.”

A pathway out of child labor

To address the root causes of child labor, SOS Children’s Villages launched a pilot project in 2017 to support young girls working as tantie bagage. The program, based at the Institut de Formation et d’Éducation Féminine (Women’s Training and Education Institute), provides participants with:

• Literacy classes

• Life skills and counseling

• Vocational training in fields like sewing, hairdressing and hospitality

• Hands-on apprenticeships with local business owners

Students remain in the program for three to five years, depending on their education level. They alternate between classroom instruction and practical experience, allowing them to build confidence and real-world skills.

Local tailor Khalifa Traore, one of the first to join as a mentor and trainer, remembers the challenges early on. “At first, the girls were under pressure to return to the markets. But as they gained confidence, their families began to see what was possible.”