Africa-Press – Malawi. Malawi is facing a pressing issue that has plagued its cities for generations – the presence of street-connected children. In most cases, such children are found on the streets out of despair for survival.
This problem, rooted in historical and political intricacies, has had devastating consequences for the people living in the cities. Thus, it is high time policy makers took a closer look at the background of this issue, its ramifications and worked towards effective solutions using a social welfare approach.
Many of these young individuals are drawn to the streets due to poverty, lack of access to education and a dearth of basic necessities. Some politicians and business people exploit their vulnerability by offering handouts in exchange for loyalty and protection of their interests when necessary.
This creates a vicious cycle where these youth continue to depend on these handouts, as they are constantly hungry and unable to satisfy their basic needs.
These young individuals, driven by desperation and the struggle for survival, often resort to criminal activities. This includes acts of theft, vandalism and intimidation, turning them into a menace for the ordinary citizens going about their daily lives.
The fear they instill in people forces them to avoid confrontation, allowing the problem to persist and grow. The devastation caused by these street youth is not limited to their immediate actions. It extends to the wider community and the local economy.
Ordinary citizens, particularly small business owners, suffer the brunt of their activities. The constant fear of theft and vandalism hinders economic growth and investment.
Many business owners face financial ruin due to the persistent attacks on their property and livelihoods. This not only affects the business owners but also contributes to the worsening economic conditions in these urban areas.
Addressing the issue of street-connected children in Malawi demands a comprehensive approach that prioritises social welfare and wellbeing. It is crucial for policy makers to take action and implement a number of strategies.
First and foremost, it is of essence to invest in social welfare programmes that focus on providing basic needs, such as food, shelter and education, to vulnerable youth. These programmes should aim at breaking the cycle of dependency on handouts. Again, access to education and skills training is of importance as it will help heal the otherwise broken lives of the youth.
That is, interventions and initiatives to ensure that the street-connected youth have access to education and skills training should be developed, enabling them to become functional and self-sufficient, so that they can as well contribute to the stability of the society.
Establishing rehabilitation centres as well helps in providing counselling and support to street-connected youth, helping them reintegrate into society and avoiding a life of crime.
The other strategy is that of encouraging community involvement in identifying and addressing the causes of street-connected youth problems, promoting social cohesion and cooperation.
Last, but not least, policy makers should ensure that law enforcement agencies address criminal activities by the youth effectively, while respecting their rights and dignity.
Lastly, the government ought to think of economic empowerment, where small business owners affected by the activities of street-connected youth should be supported through grants, insurance schemes and security measures.
This intervention will help mitigate the socioeconomic woes suffered by these small business owners. The issue of street-connected children in Malawi is a complex and deeply ingrained problem. In fact, the issue cannot be copiously addressed by ad hoc measures or handouts.
Conversely, the issue, no matter how grave it is, is not insurmountable. By adopting a holistic social welfare approach, policy makers can comprehensively address the root causes of this issue and create a more stable and secure environment for both the street-connected youth and the ordinary citizens doing business in the cities.
It is also essential to accentuate the fact that, the battle against the issue in question needs concerted efforts, as it is a collective responsibility to ensure that the streets of Malawi are safe, prosperous and free from the devastating effects of this longstanding crisis.
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