The Streets, A home for Children

By Perrykent Nkole As it is said but barely understood that “all the old men were once children but not all children will one day be old”. This is because of unjust circumstances which promote injustice among our people. But how much do we care about children? I tremble to ask why people care only about their children and keep the doors of their houses closed for homeless children forgetting that even when they curse, reject, and sin against God, he still provides them food, clothes and a home to sleep in. If only the society could lend its ears to the wind and hear it listen to the cry of an innocent child on every corner of the street, we would come to a conclusion that perhaps a future footballer, future journalist or even a future president spends 24 hours, 365 days in the cold. Our currency was given the name Kwacha because there was a light at the end the tunnel, but this light is not shining in the lives of over 20,000 Zambian children from which 12% are between the ages of 5 - 14 years living on the streets. According to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the United Nation’s Convention on the rights of the Child (to which Zambia is a signatory), a child is defined as every human being below the age of 18 and is entitled to all the rights in these documents. But if we dig deeper in this case we will find out that children living on the streets are deprived of the rights to; education, quality health care, survival and development, a safe environment and many other important rights that are necessary in the development of adolescents. As if that is not enough, they are denied the sweetest feeling that a child can ever experience “the motherly love”. What a cruel world it is that as days go by, some even give birth right there in the cold hence increasing the number of children on the streets and the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS because some of them are raped while some are found as victims of human trafficking. And they are further exposed to activities such as glue sniffing, abusing marijuana, and alcohol hence making it easy for politicians and other powerful individuals to use them as l tools for violence. And speaking in an interview, the OVC representative for Living Hope Foundation, Miss Mary Namukwa Mauma said that it is sad that government is perceiving the issue of children on the streets as an easy one because a lot needs to be done to prevent incidents were children go back to the streets even after being helped by institutions such as Living Hope Foundation because of lack of resources. As a child it brings sadness to my heart when I see my fellow children’s dreams being shuttered and their lives being destroyed by drugs, violence and other immoral acts! But what can I do? Am only a child as well, but by writing this story I hope that someone somewhere will come to their aid because it is said that “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.

Meet champions for children Kanengo Nakamba (16) and Iman Abdi (16)

Like most sub-Saharan countries struggling with HIV, Zambia faces similar struggles, if not more. It is important for all, young and old, big and small, of different race or tribe to take a stand in the fight against HIV and AIDS. And the real champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS? It is those young people who selflessly advocate, sacrifice their time, stand firm in the midst of adversity, just to see an HIV free generation. It is them, who despite statistics speaking against them, believe in the possibility. True champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS! Meet two of them today: Kanengo Nakamba (16) and Iman Abdi (16), youth advocates in Zambia An HIV free generation: hope for the future! From 1918 to 1919, an epidemic struck, the great influenza also known as the Spanish flu. During the flu’s reign of terror an estimated 50-100 million people lost their lives in a space of six months. Meanwhile the Typhus epidemic killed about 9 million people during World War One. Today, we face another epidemic on our hands, HIV and AIDS. Claiming more casualties than war has. Leaving millions of children orphaned, homeless and unprotected, this is an epidemic which needs to be silenced like the Spanish flu. In as much as the government is playing a major role in the fight against HIV it is also key to recognise the efforts of young people giving their contributions to the fight. From award winner to male circumcision advocate Kanengo Nakamba (16) is just one of those children who have embarked on contributing towards the fight against HIV and AIDS. This year she worked on a project to which she won an award at the Junior Engineers Technicians and Scientist (JETS) fair. In this project she educated and informed people about male circumcision and how it could help reduce the spread of HIV. Her project will enable her next to work with the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health under the Male Circumcision office. The Ministry will partner with different schools educating children on Male Circumcision and HIV. Kanengo is also a child journalist under Media Network Child Rights and Development. Being trained in various media skills has helped her, in her capacity to advocate against the spread of HIV. Creating changes in the lives of young people Another young advocate is Iman Abdi, who is currently working with Anti-AIDS Teachers Association of Zambia (AATAZ) and is giving training to young people mainly in high schools ranging between the ages of 9-19. She educates them on HIV and AIDS, reproductive health and things concerning their personal development. The youngsters are drafted from different schools, each having about 5-10 pupils chosen. Together they undergo a 3 day training. ’When the trainings are done, the children are well informed and prepared to disseminate this new information acquired’, Iman said. With the newly acquired information they return back to their school and establish clubs known as ‘Catch Them Young’. The clubs recruit young people and create awareness on HIV and AIDS through drama and events in their schools. ’My passion for this programme is huge: just being able to see change in the lives of the young people at the end of the workshop is amazing. They walk out of the workshop as completely different individuals: confident, well informed, passionate and eager to educate their communities. This is critical, as it focuses on making people more aware of HIV and AIDS. Young people, who are trained, do this extremely well and really have an impact on their peer’s perspective and consequently their action too. It is therefore important to support such positive programmes to contribute to the fight against HIV and AIDS’, she further lamented. The real champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS are the youth advocates! Even though, HIV and AIDS cases continue to rise. It is important for all, young and old, big and small, of different race or tribe to take a stand in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Only through collective responsibility can we achieve a 100 per cent HIV and AIDS free generation! So if you were to ask, who are the real champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS? It is those young people who selflessly advocate, sacrifice their time, stand firm in the midst of adversity, work tirelessly, asking nothing in return, just to see an HIV free generation. It is them, who despite statistics speaking against them, believe in the possibility. True champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS! By Chrispin Sinyangwe (16), Children’s News Agency (CNA) *courtesy of stop aids now e-news letter