Chocolate Child Slaves- CNN

Summary

On a farm in Ivory Coast, 10-year-old Abdul and sixteen-year-old Yaku, both from Burkina Faso, endure harsh labor conditions. Abdul, a child slave, works without wages, while Yaku, scarred from labor, dreams of education. Their stories reveal the grim reality of child labor in the cocoa industry.

Takeaways

• 👦 Abdul is a 10-year-old child laborer on a farm, having worked there for three years.
• 🍽️ He does not receive wages for his work, only food, occasional tips, and torn clothes.
• 🧑‍🌾 Abdul is essentially a child slave, working under exploitative conditions.
• 💬 Abdul revealed his situation away from others, suggesting fear or control on the farm.
• 🇧🇫 Abdul comes from Burkina Faso, and was brought to the Ivory Coast by a stranger after his father's death.
• 🍫 Abdul has never eaten chocolate and doesn't know the purpose of the cocoa he helps produce.
• 👦 On the same farm, they met Yaku, another child laborer from Burkina Faso.
• 🪓 Yaku bears machete scars on his legs from the hard labor he performs on the farm.
• 📚 Yaku dreams of going to school to learn to read and write, but has never attended school.
• 😢 Both boys show signs of emotional trauma, with Yaku particularly expressing a deep desire for education.

Q & A

What is Abdul's age and what is his situation on the farm?

Abdul is 10 years old and he is working on the farm without wages, only receiving food, occasional tips, and torn clothes.

Where is Abdul originally from and how did he end up on the farm?

Abdul is from neighboring Burkina Faso. After his father died, a stranger brought him to Ivory Coast where he now works on the farm.

What does Abdul know about the product of the farm he works on?

Abdul has never eaten chocolate and does not even know what cocoa is, indicating he is unaware of the end product of the farm's labor.

What is Abdul's preference if he had a choice?

If Abdul had a choice, he would not work on the farm.

Who is Yaku and what is his background?

Yaku is another child worker on the same farm, also from Burkina Faso. His father died, and his mother brought him to Ivory Coast.

How old does Yaku claim to be and what is his physical condition?

Yaku claims to be sixteen, but he looks much younger. He has machete scars on his legs from clearing the bush, suggesting a physically demanding job.

What are Yaku's emotional scars and what does he wish for?

Yaku's emotional scars are implied to be deep, as indicated by his desire to go to school to learn to read and write, which he has never had the opportunity to do.

What is the term used to describe Abdul and Yaku's situation on the farm?

The term used to describe Abdul and Yaku's situation is 'child slave,' indicating they are working under forced and exploitative conditions.

What is the nature of the work Abdul and Yaku are doing on the farm?

Abdul and Yaku are doing physically demanding work such as clearing the bush with machetes, which is typical on cocoa farms.

What is the implication of Abdul and Yaku's lack of education and their work on the farm?

The implication is that Abdul and Yaku are being denied basic rights such as education and are instead subjected to labor in conditions that resemble slavery.

What is the role of the translator in understanding Abdul and Yaku's stories?

The translator plays a crucial role in facilitating communication and allowing Abdul and Yaku to share their stories more freely away from the group.