Chad’s tradition of child confiding adapts to modern life
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Sociologist Dr. Ndilbé François discussed the Chadian practice of entrusting children to relatives, a longstanding tradition facing challenges from rising costs of living, urbanization, and modernization.
Historically, Chadian families sent children to live with uncles, aunts, or cousins to provide them with education and socialization outside of their immediate families. This custom once facilitated connections between rural and urban areas, allowing children from villages to attend school in cities when resources were limited at home.
Beyond education, confiding children also strengthened family bonds and served as a form of demographic and economic regulation, as families could share the responsibility of raising multiple children. Dr. François explained that this practice reflects a communal view of education, where a child is seen as belonging to the wider community, not solely to their parents. However, the practice has changed over time.
While traditional education was strict and biological parents didn’t always check on the child’s wellbeing, frequent communication between parents and the host family now sometimes disrupts the arrangement and hinders the child’s independence. Despite these challenges, Dr. François believes that children raised with responsibility through this system often develop resilience and achieve greater success, contrasting them with overprotected children.
