Children in Chad are some of the most at-risk children in the world. In particular, CFK-Chad defines orphaned and vulnerable children as children under the age of 18 having lost one or two parents and at risk of not receiving an education. In 2000, 65.5 % of all school age children in Chad were working instead of attending school (2001 UNICEF). Reports indicate that child trafficking occurs inside the country. Chadian boys are trafficked internally for use as herders; girls are trafficked for exploitation as prostitutes or involuntary domestic servitude in urban areas. Most trafficked children are trafficked by their families for economic reasons. Reports also show that mahadjirine children, children who attend Islamic schools, are often forced by their teachers to beg for food and money (2003 US Dept. of State). Increasing numbers of children are living in child-headed households with minimal or no adult supervision or support. The human and social cost of this problem is tremendous and for thousands of Chadian orphans this has fundamentally changed the nature of childhood.

Although primary education is compulsory and free in Chad it is not enforced. APEs have had to recover their cost of hiring community teachers by charging school fees, systematically penalizing the segment of society most in need of education. Many OVCs living in the streets of Abeche are involved in petty crime to meet their basic needs, they are unable to pay for school fees and are locked out of their only opportunity for advancement: education.