By CrossRiverWatch admin
Eshua Joseph, Executive Director Passion Universal, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which focuses on street children in Cross River State has said his organization has undertaken a project to build a skills acquisition center and orphanage home for abandoned street children.
Mr. Eshua however revealed that work is currently ongoing at the site (Satellite Town Calabar) as he lamented what he described as pitiable state of the street children and government’s inability to carter for them through the Ministry of Social Welfare.
He stated that the default of government and the society at large is what necessitated the project. Adding that, “Why this became necessary is because when we pick these children from the street, with the pains of taking them back home, at times some parents will say no we don’t want this child again, this child is a witch, we want you to carry this child. Some parents tell us we are doing well and we should keep the children, what do we do?”
Eshua further added that the problem is compounded by the refusal of some orphanage homes when told the children being brought in are from the street as the operators of these homes reject them for fear of “contaminating others”.
The Passion Universal Executive Director went added that the street children have been regarded as outcasts “Where they have been made to live their lives as a people that are not part of the society.” He said.
On his hopes for the future, Mr. Joseph said “I believe and is see a society where that child that is called a street child will be given attention, I see a society that is fit and conducive for the Nigerian child to exhibit that God-given creative character. So for us in this organization, we see a future where the child’s right should be respected, should not be pocketed, should not be zipped up, a society where children are given fair hearing.”
Leave feedback about this