Celebrations for this year’s international child day should serve as a wakeup call in ensuring better welfare to children, yet more needs to be done especially in civilizing street kids.
In line with raising the awareness, the event scheduled to take place in Huye district will also observe two more relevant global celebrations including child labor day and African family.
The minister of labor and public service, Anastase Murekezi noted that some children were exposed to harassment due to poverty. He proceeded by warning those who take advantage of the poor kids’ situation by employing them to hard tasks and end up paying them pea-nuts.
Murekezi also encouraged the public to play a role in ensuring children rights were adhered and that they should report cases of child labor or harassment. In addition vulnerable parents were informed to group themselves into cooperatives in order to access credit which would facilitate them in forming a descent income generating activity.
The minister also discouraged financial contribution to physically fit beggars especially adults who use their children to beg money in the street. “It would be better if you advised them on useful activities or give them jobs instead of providing them with coins since it makes them reluctant,” he remarked.
Moreover, constructions of two more rehabilitation centers are underway, the target is to eliminate all street kids and train them on vocational skills while those who perform well will be given scholarship to pursue their career in academic institutions.
The event will also pay tribute to those who took part in South Africa’s Soweto Uprising back in 1976 meant to change the quality of education given to locals during the Apartheid war.
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