Cape Verde will create 11 centers for children and adolescents at risk

This year, Cape Verde will create 11 centers funded by the Social Protection Fund (Fundo Mais) on different islands to provide daily assistance to at-risk children and adolescents, the government said on Wednesday.

“The main task of these centers is to provide daily assistance to children and adolescents who are at risk and socially vulnerable,” said Minister of State and Minister of National Defense Jeanine Lelis.

According to the Minister, who is the representative of the Council of Ministers, of the 11 centers, five will be established in the city of Praia, three on the island of São Vicente and the rest on the islands of Boa Vista, São Nicolau and Sal (one in each) to cover children aged 6 to 18 years.

The total budget for the construction of the centers is approximately 580 million escudos (5.2 million euros).

The children’s emergency center on the island of Sal will be similarly strengthened “to improve the level of care provided.”

Jeanine Lelis said that in addition to the 11 centers announced this Wednesday, the government intends to create two more: one in the north of Santiago and another on the island of Santo Antan.

“The Fundo Mais directives place great emphasis on children’s emergency centers and the allocation of subsidies to families that need them most, as part of the fight against extreme poverty,” said Jeanine Lelis.

In February, authorities announced that illegal child labor affected 4,900 children in Cape Verde, or 4.2% of the population aged 5 to 17.

The data also showed that more than 80% of households that use child labor consist of more than four people (41.4% of households have more than six people).