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Life as a slave... student reveals hidden world of trafficked children
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter5 Aug 2009
The full horror of child trafficking is revealed by a student who tells today about the years of abuse he suffered.
A report claims hundreds of African children are being brought to London illegally to work as domestic slaves.
Tunde Jaji was about five when he was taken from Nigeria and forced to work at a home in Harringay for an African woman who said she was his aunt. Tunde, 23, said: "I would be upstairs and my aunt would shout up to me to come downstairs.
"She would order me to change the channel with the remote control which was right in front of her.
"Or else she would wake me up at two in the morning to clean the house. Even if there were just two plates in the sink she would get me up. Her husband used to beat me. He would hit me regularly.
"He would say my parents were dead and it was my fault because I was evil I don't even know if my 'aunt' was a relative or not."
A report by the Home Office-funded Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre says adults are exploiting African children for free domestic help and tens of thousands of pounds a year in bogus benefit claims. Many are sexually abused - although Tunde has no recollection of that.
After being thrown out by his "aunt" at the age of 18, Tunde contacted Lynne Awbery, his former teacher at Park View Academy, who gave him a home in Muswell Hill where she lives with her children and husband Brian Rawson.
Ms Awbery said: "When I first met Tunde he was so traumatised. He didn't know what was happening to him was wrong. He would stutter very badly. He was very anxious; he couldn't make eye contact. There is no hint of that any more. He is completely confident."
She discovered a birth certificate in Nigeria which showed Tunde was born in a suburb of Lagos on 19 June 1986. They found his mother had only died in 2001 - her death certificate gave diphtheria as the cause. His father is thought to be living illegally in the UK and had visited his son while he was with his "aunt" - but failed to reveal his true identity.
Tunde was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK on his 21st birthday and this month was accompanied by Ms Awbery to his graduation ceremony at the Arts Institute in Bournemouth where he received a 2:1 in animation production.
Debbie Ariyo, executive director of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, said: "There are maybe 200 young people locked up in people's homes working as slaves but it's really difficult to say exactly. When they do come forward prosecutions are rare because it is the word of the child against the abuser."
A report published by CEOP in the spring identified 50 confirmed or suspected cases of children trafficked from east and west Africa, but a spokesman said the figure was likely to be higher.
CEOP says anyone with "concerns about the wellbeing of a child who may be in these circumstances" should call local police, social services or the Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line on 0800 107 7057.
Reader views (3)
I notice the absence of comments in condemnation of this type of slavery, from people who queued up to have a pop about British slavery in the 1800s, not so long ago.
In any case, well done to the lad on his degree. He's had a lot less opportunity than many of the "disaffected youthes" running amok in the UK, but has made something of his life.
- Jock, London, 05/08/2009 15:32
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Well done to young Tunde for being able to achieve something despite awful beginnings, and how lucky for him to have found such a teacher who gave him the confidence to open up to her, and for giving him a home and support when he needed it. Both teacher and pupil are a credit, and I wish you every success in the future.
- Smb, London, UK, 05/08/2009 12:23
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What a touching story. Triumph out of adversity, through the support of a teacher that cared and the hard work of Tunde himself. Respect to both of them.
- Nolan, Londonist, 05/08/2009 10:15
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