A non-governmental organization that supports street children has called on members of the public to show love and kindness to vulnerable children.
Narok Street Families Initiative chairperson Ms. Pauline Naikumi said most of the children on the streets were total orphans while others were born in the streets hence they had no immediate family member to support them.
Naikumi said her organization has initiated programs to educate the children on the dangers of taking drugs as well as giving them food and clothing.
‘We do this because we want to show them that there is hope beyond the streets. We want them to value themselves and do something meaningful in society,’ she said.
The chairlady added that they have already been connected to manual jobs like car wash, mechanic, and painting among others to keep them engaged.
She spoke during a luncheon that the group had prepared for the Narok town street boys where she welcomed more well-wishers to join her group to uplift the living standards of this vulnerable group.
Another group member, Ms. Lydia Muchemi called on the county government to build a rehabilitation center where the street families can be kept and transformed to be responsible citizens.
‘Our major challenge is drug abuse. All the street children are under drugs and it becomes difficult to guide them because they are never sober. A rehabilitation center will help them to have a better future,’ she said.
Lydia’s remarks were echoed by another member Ms. Lilian Kotkot who stressed the need to help the street children as they too are human and deserve good treatment.
She lauded Medicaia, a private hospital that has been carrying out medical camps in the streets whereby they offer free medical check-ups and medicines to street families.Ms. Kotkot underscored the great talent in the street children saying some are great musicians, mechanics, and pastors among other fields noting if given a chance, they will become great leaders in the society.
‘We have seen many people in the past who were brought up in the streets but ended up as great leaders because they had someone to hold their hands. We should not undermine the street families because they have great potential,’ she said.
Source: Kenya News Agency