If you’ve never seen small-scale mining in person, it can be difficult to imagine what it is and how it takes place.
Two of our partners, Julius Opiyo and Kirsten Dales, teamed up with UNESCO to create a documentary detailing the small-scale mining community in Migori, Kenya.
This video captures the dynamic and challenges of the artisanal miners in Western Kenya. It offers a window into what life is like for the people who subsistence mine gold for a living, and is a good start for understanding the ASGM. Included is an in-depth discussion of a subject dear to our hearts; that of the need for improved practices and technology. Footage of the shaker table we donated to Migori’s MICA cooperative is shown at 8:09 and 10:20 minutes into the reel.
It is estimated that there are fifteen million small-scale, subsistence miners residing in over eighty countries, and significant differences exist from one mining community to another, including cultural habits, terrain, type of ore and resources available. No matter which country, the ASGM is tied by certain defining characteristics; poverty-stricken areas, rudimentary methods and a lack of resources.
As the video stated, the need for formalization is tantamount to mercury reduction and inclusive, sustainable development. Look for an upcoming post on what formalization means and how it stands to transform livelihoods, improve the global economy and contribute to a healthier planet.