Children are gifts of their parents and they are adornment for their home. Grown ups feel good when they spend time with children, who are innocent by nature. People derive satisfactions from caring for children. But it must not be assumed they are leading a good life in different corners of the world.
There are Children stripped of peace, love and basic needs. Specially in developing countries, they are living in abject poverty. They lack health care, chance for education and other problems. They are subjected to child labor As to sources, an estimated number of 150,000 children fend for themselves on the streets of Ethiopian cities.
These street children languish under harsh living conditions every day. They are always forced to beg for alms to get their day meal. To bear the challenge from a biting cold they face while sleeping on roadsides barely clad, almost all fall prey to drag addiction. On roads it is not difficult to observe street children holding plastic bottles, having benzine they use when they feel hungry or cold. It is not hard to surmise street life is more dangerous for female children.
They are always vulnerable to sexual exploitation. And they are forced to face different psycho-social problems. The reformed Ethiopian government is now working hard on every sector backed up by the new blood injected in its energetic management. So, it has set a 100-day plan for every sector. Now it is checking how much effective the plans are going to be. Based on this, it is all out to mollify the plight of children who are living in harsh conditions.
And it is working in every state to come up with solutions that better address challenges. To outreach and support street children it is working hard. In concert, it is working with social organizations to render children lifestyle better. The Ministry of Women Children and Youths Affairs (MoWCYA) announced that it has gathered more than 4200 street children, whom it managed to reintegrate with their family and society in 100 days.
Hand in glove with government bodies, religious institutions and private sectors, it has managed to collect the children by selecting the areas such children frequent. The street children have underwent advises and to go back to their home in Amhara, Southern Nation and Nationality, Tigray, Oromia Hareri, Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa. Not only street children, still there are lots of children who are victims to molestation.
As to the ministry, it is working to support these children. Through a joint push at every level, it is capable to give economic support for more than 114,000 children in the course of the past 100 days. These supports may help children to get a momentary relief. But they cannot be the only solution. It needs additional solutions. The ministry has finalized that child strategy, local adoption and child friendly guideline.
The emphasis is not only given by MoWCYA’s, most sectors are striving to create comfort zones for children. Very recently, the Addis Ababa City Administration has also announced the good news that may resuscitates the citizens hope. Specially, it is a new life starting point for street persons. Through the new launched social trust fund, the Administration has prepared and already started collecting street persons from the Addis Ababa road and to join six shelters.
In the African Union’s seat, Addis street peoples are seen at every corner. Now the City Administration has begun collecting about 50,000 of them to shelters And children and women will get first treatment, as to the Administration. “To actualize the reformed Ethiopia, we will hold all its children,” said President Sahilework Zewide on the launching ceremony.
She pledge the government will work hard more on the sector with other concerned bodies,” she added. Lead by the Deputy Mayor Enginer Takele Uma , The City Administration has started collecting beneficiaries starting from the past week. It will press ahead with the task giving priority to volunteers.
The Deputy Mayor also said that “Street persons have their own dreams and we are allies to make them get their dream,” and he stressed that it is a responsibility of all societies. This movement to collect children and other citizens from the street has become a source of joy for not only street persons, it has also lit up the public’s face. But push needs added effort. So, there is a plan in the pipeline to the required effect.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 10/2019
BY GENET FEKADE
