Fewer and fewer children have stable and family environments. Many families have broken
up with children left to fend for themselves. Many families are also increasingly characterized
by absent parents, lack of communication between parents and children, alcoholism and
domestic violence. Many children run away to the streets to avoid violence and abuse in the
family. However, the ugly truth is that the major part of the tragedy of street children is the way
African governments have abandoned them to their fate. If there is some kind of political
commitment on the part of African governments, very little is being done to address the problem
of street children. Africa and the world are ignoring the Problem of Street Children:
Instead of addressing the problem of street children, most governments in Africa traditionally
respond by repression. Street children arrested for a minor theft or roaming around are often
arrested and held in custody until somebody can be found to take
responsibility for them. This can take weeks or months. Detention in harsh circumstances is the
common lot of street children every where. This tells us more about the real attitude of
governments than any examination of national legislation.
Today governments are increasingly taking ruthless steps to clear the streets of street children
and other unscrupulous characters. They do not offer any viable alternative to the street. The
most recent happened in the Congo’s capital Kinshasa where the government arrested hundreds
of street children and decided to send them in a far away province of Katanga without a clear
plan to help them and find a durable solution to this huge problem that in reality, is of epidemic
proportions.
A question that we must increasingly ask ourselves is how long must it take before the problem
of street children attracts the proper attention that it deserves? How many more children must
first take to the streets or die because of lack of care on our streets before we can acknowledge
that the problem of street children is a very serious one which is likely to affect all of us? The
probable answers, given present day conditions in Africa, is that the problem of street children
has to grow to enormous proportions before it gets the attention it deserves! This is a tragedy
that cannot remain ignored any longer.
What are some of the actions that African countries can take to address the problem? The first
important step is to realize and acknowledge that the problem of street children is one of the
most burning problems and challenge facing the African continent.
There needs to be a firm commitment by all concerned parties to tackle the problem and not just
ignore it hoping that it will go away or that other people are going to come to solve the problem
for us. Children living on the street, without homes or families, pose the greatest challenge in
terms of rehabilitation, often needing long-term one-on-one counseling.
up with children left to fend for themselves. Many families are also increasingly characterized
by absent parents, lack of communication between parents and children, alcoholism and
domestic violence. Many children run away to the streets to avoid violence and abuse in the
family. However, the ugly truth is that the major part of the tragedy of street children is the way
African governments have abandoned them to their fate. If there is some kind of political
commitment on the part of African governments, very little is being done to address the problem
of street children. Africa and the world are ignoring the Problem of Street Children:
Instead of addressing the problem of street children, most governments in Africa traditionally
respond by repression. Street children arrested for a minor theft or roaming around are often
arrested and held in custody until somebody can be found to take
responsibility for them. This can take weeks or months. Detention in harsh circumstances is the
common lot of street children every where. This tells us more about the real attitude of
governments than any examination of national legislation.
Today governments are increasingly taking ruthless steps to clear the streets of street children
and other unscrupulous characters. They do not offer any viable alternative to the street. The
most recent happened in the Congo’s capital Kinshasa where the government arrested hundreds
of street children and decided to send them in a far away province of Katanga without a clear
plan to help them and find a durable solution to this huge problem that in reality, is of epidemic
proportions.
A question that we must increasingly ask ourselves is how long must it take before the problem
of street children attracts the proper attention that it deserves? How many more children must
first take to the streets or die because of lack of care on our streets before we can acknowledge
that the problem of street children is a very serious one which is likely to affect all of us? The
probable answers, given present day conditions in Africa, is that the problem of street children
has to grow to enormous proportions before it gets the attention it deserves! This is a tragedy
that cannot remain ignored any longer.
What are some of the actions that African countries can take to address the problem? The first
important step is to realize and acknowledge that the problem of street children is one of the
most burning problems and challenge facing the African continent.
There needs to be a firm commitment by all concerned parties to tackle the problem and not just
ignore it hoping that it will go away or that other people are going to come to solve the problem
for us. Children living on the street, without homes or families, pose the greatest challenge in
terms of rehabilitation, often needing long-term one-on-one counseling.
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The Master's Touching Hand, Inc
Reaching for hands, Touching the hearts
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