I found myself sold without knowing it. It was as though I had become an object, that you can shape, and then throw away. We were 380 young slaves aged eight to 15 years, lost in the hell that was the farms of Chakabougou. Each day we had to keep going despite the inhuman work or die finished off with a blow of the whip.
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The Ivory Coast produces 43% of the world's cocoa.
It is estimated that 90% of the chocolate that comes from the Ivory Coast is produced using slave labor.
Thousands upon thousands of children, age 9 - 12 are enslaved on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast.
These children are bought for as little as $30 (USD). They are kept in windowless sheds when they are not working - which isn't often, as they work from 80 - 100 hours per week. The living conditions are terrible. They are beaten. Most will never see their families again.
