Mchinji Anti Child Trafficking Centre, Malawi

The Salvation Army

In Malawi, children are trafficked into various areas. Boys are taken aged between 6 and 17, and sold into labour, tobacco plantations and cattle farming, etc. Girls are trafficked aged 14-18 years. They are promised careers in modelling but are sold into prostitution. Children with Albinism can be taken at any age; their body parts are used in witchcraft. Once the children have been trafficked they have very poor mental health and behavioural problems. They are usually fearful and depressed and have poor physical health. The Salvation Army centre provides specialised support for trafficked children. It is linked with many organisations in Mchinji and in the children’s source districts. The staff cary out reintegration visits to the children’s families before returning them home. They raise awareness and sensitise the communities on trafficking. Once children are rescued they receive an education. Older children get skills-based training, such as carpentry, bike repair and tailoring. Through different stakeholders, the project received 133 victims of trafficking in 2015. Malawi now has a law to prosecute traffickers. Salvation Army took a big part in lobbying for this law.