Child labor in the Kayayei community

In Accra, our focus is on the Kayayei: young women and girls, sometimes still children, who work as porters in the markets. Many migrate from the impoverished northern regions, driven by extreme poverty, to support their families or to pursue an education. Once in the city, girls—some as young as nine—carry heavy loads on their heads for long hours under the scorching sun, often exceeding their own body weight. More than 100,000 Kayayei are working across Ghana. Many become mothers at a young age, due to a lack of knowledge, but more often as a result of abuse. Their living conditions are extremely harsh. They live in overcrowded slums or sleep outside in small groups, unprotected and easy targets. Kayayei children grow up in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to healthcare, scarce clean drinking water, and little nutritious food. Education is often out of reach, and the risk of abuse and exploitation is alarmingly high.

Despite these challenges, the girls show remarkable resilience. They organize into small groups, caring for one another, often with an older girl in a maternal role. They take pride in their work and move with striking speed and skill through the crowded markets. Initiatives are emerging to form unions, negotiate fair prices, and create safe shelters—but there is still much work to be done.

Our partners

Three of our projects have already been completed! Learn all about these initiatives and our upcoming projects.