Guinée : À Kindia, des mères fouillent les ordures à mains nues pour nourrir leurs enfants
On the outskirts of Kindia, in the Koliady 1 neighborhood, a harsh and invisible reality plays out daily: women sift through mountains of open-air garbage to provide for their families. Without gloves, masks, or boots—with their bare hands, they handle sometimes toxic waste in a dangerous, unsanitary, and completely unprotected environment.
“We come to this dump to look for recyclable items that we resell to feed our children,” says Sayon Camara, a plastic collector.
Alongside him, Namary Camara and Tata Camara search through the rubbish day after day, in alarming conditions.
"It's poverty that forces us. Our husbands don't work. We do what we can to survive. But we have no protection," explains Namary, her hands blackened.
"No boots, no gloves, no bibs. We're exposed to all kinds of diseases, but we have no choice," Tata adds, her voice trembling.
Waste becomes resources… at the cost of health
The sorted plastic is resold at low prices to middlemen. This informal activity allows these women to bring home a few thousand Guinean francs—just enough to buy rice or condiments. But at what price?
The manager of the Koliady 1 landfill, Seydouba Sylla, himself recognizes the seriousness of the situation:
“These women are not protected. We raise awareness every morning, but it’s not enough. They help reduce the amount of waste, which extends the life of the landfill. It’s urgent to provide them with gloves, boots, medication, and medical consultations. Their health is at stake.”
A social and ecological issue
This thankless but crucial work highlights a paradox: the most vulnerable women, unwittingly, carry out a public service mission in recycling. They reduce the ecological impact of waste, without state support or official recognition.
This situation raises a fundamental question: how long will the most vulnerable continue to pay the high price of silence and political inaction?
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