Welcome to Our World... Lives for Sale

28 February 2009 - 10 March 2010

Boy working on cocoa plantation (click image for larger version)

Welcome to our World... Lives for Sale is the first in a new series of displays that explore some of the more challenging aspects of contemporary childhood, bringing them to greater attention.

Lives for Sale looks at the contemporary trade in child labour and asks - What can we do to help end human trafficking?, focusing on the lives of children who have been tricked into working on cocoa plantations, for minimal wages and in appalling conditions.

The display is organised in association with STOP THE TRAFFIK, who estimate that 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, with thousands ending up on cocoa farms. Organisations like STOP THE TRAFFIK are trying to reach more people with the message about fairly-traded chocolate.

www.stopthetraffik.org has lots more information about the issue and ideas for how you can help.