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By Marilyn King
The Network for Street Children Sierra Leone (N S C S L) in Collaboration with Street Child, Don Bosco Fambul, St George’s Foundation, ToyBox, Laughter Africa., Cap Anamur on Wednesday 12th April Commemorated International Day of Street Children. This was held at the Street Child office in Freetown.
Speaking to the Media, The Country Director of Street Child Sierra Leone, Kelfela Kargbo, said they came together as a group and conceived the great idea about setting up a consortium that will champion the issue of Street Children in Sierra Leone. He furthered that they were driven by common goal and common agenda, by ensuring that Street Connected Children are safe. He continued that over the past years they has a Consortium in the same room rotating from one organization to another, since they able to break great grounds to make a difference. He said they expressed their intention on how children should be safe during the election period. He expressed that it is few months to election and the talk about Street Children should be intensified. He stated that so many years, so many elections has gone past and they has seen how Children get entrapped. He said majority of the Children has been roped into it, because they are vulnerable, and they depends on other people who gives them handouts to survive, may do thing that are contrary. He furthered that they are concerned to put a stop and take them collectively as a Nation to protect Children, and ensure that Children are safe during the election period and the vulnerability of the Children will not be exploited.
A Representative of Don Bosco Fambul, and Network for Street Children Sierra Leone, Amanda Helen Clemens, gave the overview of the Network, she said The Network for Street Children Sierra Leone is a coalition of Street Children Organization based in Freetown. She continued that the members include, Don Bosco Fambul, St George’s Foundation, Street Child of Sierra Leone, Cap Anamour and Laughter Africa. She furthered that the coalition focuses on policy change and advocacy. She said every year on 12th April, Street Children Organizations all over the world celebrate the International Day for Street Children (IDSC) she stated that this year the theme of the day is ‘Keeping Street-Connected Children Safe’. She said as a Network directly, working with these Children, they has localized this theme to “keeping children Safe before, during and after the election.” She also said this is one of the biggest risks facing children, particularly those living in street situations. She furthered that during the period of elections, many children particularly those living on the street, are given incentives such as money or T-shirts to join political events such as rallies or community meetings to increase the members of the crowd. She appealed to members of the press and to every Sierra Leoneans including politicians, Community members, family members and children themselves, not to let children be involved or engaged in any political events or election violence before, and after the elections. She concluded that the safety and well-being of all children, especially those in street situations, is their primary concern.
The Director of Children of Human Rights Commission, Gloria Bayoh, said the commission was established to promote and protect human rights. She said the commission has been concerned of the way children are treated in the country. She said they has a special desk that was set up for children and other people with vulnerability.
One of the Beneficiaries of Laughter Africa, Henry Gibao who was also living in the street, gave his testimony, He said they were given Le10 for political rallies. But He now thanked Laughter Africa for the opportunity they have given to him, and advised all the street Children that are on the street to vacate from the street and let no politicians fool them with Le 10 for rallies.
