Safe Steps: Liberating and Protecting Children Leading the Blind in Liberia

Executive Summary:

In Liberia, vulnerable children are increasingly being exploited as informal guides for visually impaired individuals, often at the cost of their education, safety, and childhood. Many of these children face risks such as trafficking, abuse, and economic exploitation under the guise of “community service.” This project aims to rescue these children, provide them with rehabilitation and education, and establish sustainable alternatives to ensure the dignity and independence of both the children and the visually impaired individuals they assist.

Project Duration:

18 months (Phase 1: Rescue and Rehabilitation)

Project Location:

Primary Focus: Montserrado County (Monrovia and surrounding urban areas) Secondary Focus: Rural communities in Margibi, Bong and Nimba Counties

Background and Justification:

Liberia’s post-conflict recovery has been hindered by systemic poverty, weak child protection systems, and limited support for persons with disabilities. Visually impaired individuals often rely on children from impoverished families to navigate daily life. However, this practice has led to the exploitation of children, who are frequently:

– Deprived of schooling.

– Exposed to hazardous environments such as traffic accidents, abuse, Unpaid or underpaid and perpetuating cycles of poverty

This project addresses the urgent need to: Protect children from exploitation while ensuring visually impaired individuals receive ethical, sustainable support.

Project Objectives:

1. Immediate Rescue: Identify and remove 100+ children from exploitative guiding roles.

2. Rehabilitation: Provide psychosocial support, healthcare, and education to rescued children.

3. Empowerment: Train adults (including visually impaired individuals) as professional guides to replace child labor.

4. Systemic Change: Advocate for policies to protect children and promote disability rights.