Child maid trafficking spreads from Africa to US

[DEDixon 39]

IRVINE, Calif. – Late at night, the neighbors saw a little girl at the kitchen sink of the house next door.

They watched through their window as the child rinsed plates under the open faucet. She wasn't much taller than the counter and the soapy water swallowed her slender arms. To put the dishes away, she climbed on a chair.

But she was not the daughter of the couple next door doing chores. She was their maid.

Shyima was 10 when a wealthy Egyptian couple brought her from a poor village in northern Egypt to work in their California home. She awoke before dawn and often worked past midnight to iron their clothes, mop the marble floors and dust the family's crystal. She earned $45 a month working up to 20 hours a day. She had no breaks during the day and no days off.

More here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081228/ap_on_...k.fMa7l7N9vaA8F

My comment: Although the story is no doubt true, the writer loses credibility in my opinion. The highlighted part... I can't believe it.... way too extreme. After reading the highlighted part, I didn't want to read any further for I lost all trust in the writer.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's a different world out there. Nani's family has a couple helpers at their home in Addis. One of the girls can't be much older than 10 or 11 and she does quite a bit of work around the home. To her, it's a blessing to have this family she can work for and live with. She'd be out on the street otherwise. They don't work her to death, she has quite a bit of spare time and gets her rest. And she has an opportunity to go to school living in the city. One of the previous maids has left the home a few years back at the age of 26 after having spent some 15 years with them - and she left with her high school diploma completed and a relatively bright outlook on the future. Short of finding a family to work for and live with, she may not have seen the age of 26. That's the brutal reality in some parts of the world.

That said, no such thing should be tolerated in the US or any other developed country.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

i wonder what kinda visa this kid had.

from the story, the last part of it is scary....like someone didn't learn a thing:

EPILOGUE: On a recent afternoon in Cairo, Madame Amal walked into the lobby of her apartment complex wearing designer sunglasses and a chic scarf.

After nearly two years in a U.S. prison cell, she's living once more in the spacious apartment where Shyima first worked as her maid. The apartment is adorned in the style of a Louis XIV palace, with ornately carved settees, gold-leaf vases and life-sized portraits of her and her husband.

She did not agree to be interviewed for this story.

Before the door closed behind her, a little girl slipped in carrying grocery bags. She wore a shabby T-shirt. Her small feet slapped the floor in loose flip-flops. Her eyes were trained on the ground.

She looked to be around 9 years old.

Edited December 28, 2008 by charles!

[forchika 4]

Very sad story ....I saw evidence of children being the help in the house during my visit. Did not feel good about it but, saw the little girl was capable of handiling the duties and she attended school also. There is no way, that this would knowingly be allowed in the US.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Very sad, indeed.

[panamania79 2]

IRVINE, Calif. – Late at night, the neighbors saw a little girl at the kitchen sink of the house next door.

They watched through their window as the child rinsed plates under the open faucet. She wasn't much taller than the counter and the soapy water swallowed her slender arms. To put the dishes away, she climbed on a chair.

But she was not the daughter of the couple next door doing chores. She was their maid.

Shyima was 10 when a wealthy Egyptian couple brought her from a poor village in northern Egypt to work in their California home. She awoke before dawn and often worked past midnight to iron their clothes, mop the marble floors and dust the family's crystal. She earned $45 a month working up to 20 hours a day. She had no breaks during the day and no days off.

More here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081228/ap_on_...k.fMa7l7N9vaA8F

My comment: Although the story is no doubt true, the writer loses credibility in my opinion. The highlighted part... I can't believe it.... way too extreme. After reading the highlighted part, I didn't want to read any further for I lost all trust in the writer.

This is just terrible !

[Danno 1,228]

I agree but remember... we are not suppose to be judgmental anymore.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I think it is indeed sad that children are exploited this way. Wherever it is.

[mawilson 2,133]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

[Amby 490]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

[panamania79 2]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

[mawilson 2,133]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

That's what the article is about, no?

"Child maids - previously reserved for Africa - now available in the US!"

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

That's what the article is about, no?

"Child maids - previously reserved for Africa - now available in the US!"

and if you act now, free shipping and we'll even throw in another child maid free!

just $1995.00 - call now, operators are standing by!

[Amby 490]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

That's what the article is about, no?

"Child maids - previously reserved for Africa - now available in the US!"

and if you act now, free shipping and we'll even throw in another child maid free!

just $1995.00 - call now, operators are standing by!

Can you put that into like 100 easy credit card payments of $19.95?

[mawilson 2,133]

So where do I get one of 'em child maids?

That's what the article is about, no?

"Child maids - previously reserved for Africa - now available in the US!"

and if you act now, free shipping and we'll even throw in another child maid free!

just $1995.00 - call now, operators are standing by!

Can you put that into like 100 easy credit card payments of $19.95?

And if you call in the next 15 minutes, you'll receive a complimentary child maid whip for free!