NGO urges individuals to sponsor street children through school

Accra, June 16, GNA - An NGO, which has been working to improve the lives of street children on Thursday called on private individuals to support at least a street child through school or skill training level. "Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF)" also appealed to individuals to volunteer their time with charities for street children. "Companies, corporate organizations can by way of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support interventions and programmes proven to provide life jacket for street children," it said in a statement to mark African Union Day for street children which falls on Thursday. "Policy makers and government should consider relevant policies and programmes that will fight head-on the ever increasing number of street children in Africa," it added. The theme for this year is, 93All Together for Urgent Action for Stre= et Children." SCEF noted with alarm that the number of street children in the countr= y had been increasing over the years.

It said the first headcount of street children conducted in 1992 put their number at 4,000. Another headcount five years later in 1997 totalled 8,000 and the figure in 2003 again doubled to 16,000 with estimates for 201= 3 put at 32,000.

SCEF said about 25 years ago a number of children appeared in the streets of the regional capitals of Ghana, but although there had always been children in the streets, this had never been in alarming proportions. It said a night walk through lorry parks, railway stations and the mai= n roads in the major cities would reveal countless number of children sleepin= g in open space. "The field works of SCEF through most of these places in Accra have revealed that most cannot afford the cost of feeding, exam fees, school uniforms, etc, to public schools or simply lack the orientation to go through school."

The NGO, which has been providing educational support for street children in the public schools in Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro in Accra and has about 300 children in their database, said it had had cause to turn some children away for lack of funds.

It argued that more social interventions of free school uniform, exercise books and text books, among others, should be geared towards stree= t children. "The rights of the street child to free education, primary health ca= re, affection, love and understanding, adequate nutrition, to be among the firs= t to receive relief in times of disaster, among others, should be made practical for the African street child," SCEF said.