Parents’ role highlighted in reducing street children

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Parents' role highlighted in reducing street children
Parents' role highlighted in reducing street children

Africa-Press – Tanzania. PARENTS have been told to be more responsible for upbringing their children in order to reduce the increasing number of street children.

The advice was given here over the weekend by the Ethics Secretariat staff during their visit at Kijiji Cha Matumaini Orphanage where they donated various items.

Speaking during the handing over of the items, the Lawyer of the Ethics Secretariat Mr Hassan Mayunga called upon parents to be responsible for caring and raising their children so that they can become good citizens.

“These children are human being, but you may wonder where their parents are? If these children are orphans, don’t they have close relatives? The answer could be that the society is not responsible for the upbringing of these children who also have their dreams which they wish to realise.

He said it was high time the society changed its mind set towards orphans and see how best it can support them instead of living such responsibility to the orphanages.

During the visit, the staff donated various items including clothes, juice, rice, wheat, cooking and body oil, flour, soap, milk, and children’s toys.

Kijiji Cha Matumaini Founder, Fr Vicent Boseli said the centre which started in the past 20 years has been taking care of more than 500 children most of them living with HIV.

The children housed at the centre are those taken from the families due to stigmatisation after being infected with HIV and have lost their parents.

Fr Boseli told the Ethics Secretariat staff that at least 300 children raised at the centre have already become adults and some of them are independent.

“In 2002 we started with four children but later the number increased gradually, this year we mark 20 years anniversary since the establishment of the facility, we have served more than 300 children who have grown some are married and they live outside the centre,” he said.

“There are some children who are studying at various colleges, in different fields such as medicine, engineering, teaching and they come back here during holidays,” he said.

He appealed to the community and stakeholders through public institutions and organisations to partner with the centre for sustainable support.

“If you look at us, Sister Rose and I are very old, we need support from other people to improve the lives of these children who need close attention for their health, shelter, and development in general,” said Fr Vincent.

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