On the sunlit playground of Citadelle School in Kapepa Village, Croyance Mumba stood watching her peers perform a skit, her eyes filled with excitement and confidence. She gently moved to the music, reminiscing about her shy self from three weeks ago. Now, she has not only learned to dance but also gained many self-protection skills.

Since 2022, Zijin Mining's COMMUS has been hosting a summer camp every year, which has become a tradition in the community. Held at different schools each year, the three-week camp provides food and a variety of engaging activities for the students.

Croyance especially looks forward to Open Day on Fridays, when she and her classmates are invited to visit the company. She remembers her first ride on the COMMUS minibus, seeing the massive equipment she had only read about in books and learning about the reality of mining work.

A UNICEF video shown before the visit highlighted the serious dangers faced by minors working in mines, deeply moving Croyance. "Children don't belong in mines," she said earnestly. "They should be in school, gaining knowledge." Her youthful voice conveyed the strong beliefs and hopes for the future that the summer camp had instilled in her.

Due to economic hardship and a lack of safety awareness, many local children used to play or work in the mines during the summer, leading to various dangers. The "Zijin COMMUS" summer camp is a specially planned initiative by the project company to address issues in the surrounding community, aiming to reduce child labor and prevent accidental injuries among children near the mining area.

Since the summer camp's launch, COMMUS has invested over $100,000 in the initiative, benefiting nearly 3,000 community children. As the camp's influence continues to expand, more community schools are eager to participate, collectively sowing seeds of hope for the children's future.

Translator:Jian   Reviser: Lin Xinjing   Editor-in-Chief: Wang Jie