Four years after launching the "Zero Children in Mines" initiative, the National Mining Company (Sonamines) has reached a stark conclusion: institutional awareness campaigns alone are insufficient. Faced with the continued presence of child miners in artisanal mining sites in the East and Adamawa regions, the state-owned company is making a strategic shift towards a more community-oriented, socially responsible, and pragmatic approach.

The failure of a purely material approach

Launched in September 2021, the operation aimed to curb the massive school dropout rate in gold mining areas. However, economic realities quickly overtook good intentions. For many families, the immediate gain from mining—however minimal—outweighs the distant “promise” of education.

Sonamines' findings:

1. Donations of school supplies do not prevent children from returning to the sites.
2. The financial pressure on households remains the main driver of child labor.
3. School struggles to be seen as a viable alternative to daily survival.

The new pillars of action: School, Family and

Empowerment

To reverse the trend, Serge Hervé Boyogueno, Director General of Sonamines, now advocates immersion in the heart of the communities.

1. Strengthen the link with the school

The action is no longer limited to distributing kits. Sonamines is focusing on:

1. A direct presence in classrooms to make students ambassadors for the cause to their parents.
2. Targeted educational support , with refresher courses for exam candidates to avoid dropping out at the end of the cycle.
3. Investing in preschool to establish the habit of attending school from a very young age.

2. Women's empowerment as a lever

One of the major innovations of this reorientation is targeting mothers . In Bétaré Oya and Garoua Boulaï, Sonamines supports the development of income-generating activities (IGAs) for women. By increasing mothers' financial independence, the goal is to reduce household dependence on child labor.

A public health and human rights challenge

Mining is not just a barrier to education; it is a deadly danger. According to the ILO and UNICEF, the risks are numerous for the thousands of children involved:

1. Physical risks: Well collapses, serious accidents.
2. Health risks: Respiratory illnesses due to dust and chemical poisoning.
3. Social risks: Violence and sexual exploitation.

Key figures (Cameroon)	Statistics
Children working in mines (ILO)	~ 100,000
Children aged 5-17 performing hazardous work	266,594
Percentage of 5-17 year olds engaged in economic activity (INS)	41%

Conclusion: Towards sustainable pragmatism

Although Cameroonian law prohibits the worst forms of child labor, the law is hampered by persistent structural poverty. By shifting from a communication-based approach to socio-economic support , Sonamines hopes to bring about lasting transformation in mining areas. The challenge is no longer simply to remove children from the mines, but to offer them and their families a concrete reason to remain in school.