By Archibong Jeremiah
The International Day for Street Children, 12th April, 2015 has been marked in Calabar by members of Prevent Abuse of Children Today, PACT with a 15km brisk walk from IBB Way by Akim passing through Mbora street into Marian road adjoining Rabanna roundabout entering IBB Way and terminating at the beginning of IBB Way by AKim.
Addressing the participants before the commencement of the 15km walk, the state Chairman of PACT, Mrs. Ese-Ogene Ibor encouraged the children to mark the day remembering that though they are off the streets, many are still there who need to be rescued.
Ese-Ogene informed that since 2011, they as a group have been religiously marking the day with the hope that the society will come to realize the need to join the fight against pushing children into the street for trivial reasons.
The state chairman of the Non Governmental Organization, NGO represented by James Ibor, Esq. beckoned on the participants to ponder on the theme of this year’s celebration which is “No child should call the streets their home yet millions do”, reiterating that the rationale behind marking the day religiously is because children have rights that must be protected at all cost because they are the most fragile of every society therefore all should advocate for the rights of children for a better society.
Some of the participants who spoke to CrossRiverWatch expressed happiness for participating. A cross section of the yet to be rescued street kids who spoke with our reporter also thanked the organizers for remembering them while those already rescued prayed that others will be rescued as the street is not an easy ground for any child.