A special edition episode as part of Podcasthon, the world’s largest charity podcast event. This is dedicated to the Freedom and Justice partnership charity, which aims to bring education and inclusion to child miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mark Preston’s journey began in January 2023 after reading “Cobalt Red,” a book that exposed the horrific conditions of artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC. Cobalt, a critical mineral used in modern technology, primarily comes from the DRC, with a significant portion sourced from artisanal mines where an estimated 200,000 children work in dangerous conditions. This realization, coupled with a quote from C.S. Lewis about the tendency to feel without acting, motivated Mark Preston to take action. We walk through their journey from awareness to action : the horror of artisanal mining, their vision for impact and scale and ultimately justice for children through rectifying broken systems.
Our Mission
Our newly formed charity is aiming to deliver 3 key objectives:
- To partner with trusted on the ground providers to deliver health and education outcomes for the thousands of child miners in the DRC, and around the world.
- To advocate on behalf of those trapped in child labour, pressing for improved supply chain integrity.
- To work with technologists, philanthropists, corporations and governments to expedite the adoption of technologies, systems and practices that will ensure the deeply unjust use of child labour is eradicated.
