Street Kids and Your Safety

Two weeks ago I was scheduled to do a book reading from my child safety storybook, The Adventures of Muna for street kids courtesy of the Straight Street Initiative, Enugu. When we got there, the Police had just raided so the younger ones had been taken away/chased away. There were just a few of the bigger ones who got away. We had to improvise and upgrade the content level of the storybook to fit the age range of the kids we had left. We touched on protecting themselves on the roads and protecting themselves from molestation. We also taught them not to be the one molesting others.

Interacting with those kids opened a new dimension to me. It is true those kids have run away from home for various reasons ranging from stubbornness to abuse. However, if we do not do something tangible about their presence on the streets, it would come back and hurt us in the near future. Imagine that you go the extra mile to ensure you and your family is safe: making safe choices, sharing information and putting safety systems in place but these street kids grow without any positive assistance from society. Would it be a surprise if they turn around to wreck havoc on society considering no one helped them? This means your safety or security is not even guaranteed because this neglected sector of society can rise up tomorrow and make nonsense of your safety paraphernalia.

Using the example of Enugu, there is no dedicated home run by the State to effectively take these kids off the street. So the police come from time to time to chase them from their living area under trees in different parts of the states and that’s all. That same night, those that escaped reconverged because there is nowhere else to go to. Mind you, on the streets there are levels and different age groups have their territories so these younger ones are kind of restricted in their options. These kids do all sorts of work so they can make ends meet, there was a bus conductor, bricklayer, barber etc. And some still go to school courtesy of Straight Street Initiative. However, they are exposed to the elements, they sleep under a tree on cartons, no blanket or warm clothing. There is a limit to what the human mind can take before it snaps and spirals downwards.

I’ve been opportuned to visit the Lagos State Correctional home for boys, Oregun which houses some kids picked from the streets too. A conducive environment, access to education and learning opportunities are provided for these children. When these children are re-introduced to society they will “more likely” be better off than their counterparts in Enugu.

Personal safety and security can be compromised by external factors such as hardened adults who grew up as street kids. This is why we shouldn’t turn a blind eye now. If we ignore it, it would come back to harm all of us. You might wonder how you can contribute.

Some of the kids

Adjust your attitude

Don’t just see them as dirty kids who are a menace in the environment. See the potential of that child becoming either a successful adult or a hardened criminal. Then look out for opportunities to help.

Advocate for homes run by Government

These children have a potential to make governance impossible in future. Therefore it is a wise investment for government to channel their energies positively. Children trained by a government would to some extent be strong supporters of that government because they are living proof of society’s care.

Start organisations that focus on helping these neglected children

We have a duty to fill gaps in the society. Some of us actually have resources and access to a network of individuals who can financially do the job. We can point them and their resources in the right direction.

Support existing organisations

There are a variety of existing organisations like the Straight Street Initiative across the country, working to ensure these kids turn out alright. Support them. You must not have money alone before you can support. Your time, knowledge and resources can make the difference.

Our safety can be affected by internal and external factors. How safe are you from external factors? Commit to make a difference!