MONROVIA:
(August 28, 2024) In an effort to address the alarming issue of street children in Liberia, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has officially launched the National Street Children Project, titled “Support A Child, Save the Future.” The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, aims to support children struggling on the streets across the country.
The launch ceremony took place on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, under the theme “Arise Liberia, Let’s Save the Future of Our Children.” The event brought together several key partners and stakeholders who expressed their willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Gender to ensure a successful implementation of the project.
Speaking at the launch, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in securing the future of street children, whom he described as the next generation of Liberia. He urged all stakeholders, partners, and concerned Liberians to take ownership of the initiative, highlighting the need for self-commitment to enable a brighter future for Liberia’s children.
“Some of us want to leave the country and go elsewhere but I tell you, the best of life is here when we do the right thing. Madam Minister we want to recommit ourselves to this program and this project” President Boakai noted.
The president also pledged his government’s commitment to ensuring that all street children are removed from the streets and enrolled in school.
“Under my watch, we will make sure no child will be left in the streets, no child will be out of school and this is not just Monrovia but across Liberia”
He ended.
The Assistant Minister for Preventative Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Callaus J.Howe, also spoke at the event, she underscored the need to prioritize the initiative and take actionable steps towards securing the future of street children in the country. According to her, the children are full of potentials that are often overshadowed by hardship and neglect, conditions imposed on them by societal failure.
“At this assembly today to launch the project ‘Support A Child, Save the Future,’ we have an opportunity to address the plight of our children on the streets of Liberia. This occasion marks a milestone that has been long overlooked. There are young lives in the streets selling among cars, begging for their disabled relatives, fending for those they stay with, and hanging around during school hours. These are children full of potential and promise but are often overshadowed by hardship and neglect. The conditions they find themselves in are not of their own making but the result of our societal failure to provide opportunities for them and their destitute relatives” Dr. Howe stated.
She also pledged the Ministry of Health’s support to the Ministry of Gender in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
“The Ministry of Health pledges its support to the Ministry of Gender, the communities, and other organizations to create an enabling environment through our various programs for these young children. We want to move them off the streets and provide them with education, security, and a social environment where they can live better lives. With our commitments, we can make a profound difference in their lives. This will, of course, benefit our society as a whole” she added.
Dr. Howe called on all stakeholders to commit to taking actionable steps that will secure the lives of children in Liberia. “Today, we all must pledge our commit to taking actionable steps, not just temporary relief but long-term solutions, to bring these children off the streets and into a world where they can dream, grow, succeed, and live good lives. Our collective efforts will not just transform their lives but also strengthen the fabric of our society” Dr. Howe concluded.
Providing overview during the event, the Minister of Gender, children and social protection Madam Gbeme Horace- Kollie emphasized that the current number of children found in the streets is alarming, something she believes calls for such prompt response to ensure a secured and brighter future for all street children in Liberia
“According to a survey conducted by the government of Liberia in collaboration with UNICEF, about 366,584 children are in streets situations in the country, Montserrado County alone accounts for 42% of these children, totaling 153,965, with Nimba, Bassa, Bong, and Margibi counties contributing another 42%. The survey identified various root causes of this” Madam Gbeme Horace- Kollie emphasized.
The project aims to permanently remove 73,317 children, representing 20% of the total, from street situations. The pilot phase, which will span one year, will focus on Montserrado County, targeting the removal of 7,698 children, or 5% of the county’s total. Moreover, the project will empower 1,920 mothers and caregivers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis” She ended
This initiative marks the beginning of a five-year national effort by the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Gender, to permanently remove children from the streets. It also underscores Liberia’s renewed commitment to creating a safer and more supportive environment for all street children and is an important step toward securing a brighter future for every child in the country.
