“In 2014, when I was 8 years old, my father died from Ebola. My mother could not afford my education, so she sent me to stay with her brother. At first things were good, but as time went by, he started forceably having sex with me (i.e. raping me). He kept raping without anyone noticing it and I couldn’t report to his sister or people in this community (West Point). He threatened to kill me if I opened my mouth, so I had to keep quiet. He slept with me until I got pregnant and when I told him I was, he denied responsibility and told my mother I had been sleeping with people in the community.”
Being a street child is a condition not an identity…..
“I lived a fairly comfortable life, surviving on my disability. Last year, I was hit hard when my mother passed away, causing me to lose my home. My step father and his only son moved to Grand Kru County without me knowing till later. I had no option but to come at my aunty house here in West Point. It is hell here. People throw feces on every bit of sea sand available; they have sex in the public shower, in canoes, on the beach with minors for little or nothing. There is dirt everywhere. Parents or relatives are uncaring, abusive and sell drugs. People steal rampantly. Diarrhea and vomiting are normal here. Now, I’m feeding my aunt and myself with whatsoever scraps I get from begging daily.”
These are stories from two of the many street children we’ve come across in Montserrado County. Honestly, some of these kids prefer to be out in these streets, staying away from physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Others are on these streets from abandoned families or are orphans due to the death of parents either from Ebola, HIV/Aids, etc.
As we’re currently facing a global crisis, street children will as usual be the hidden victims of this pandemic as it is easy to miss those who are out of sight, especially now that nearly everyone is dealing with anxiety, grief or economic troubles.
In a country where violence against children is already at an overwhelming high level, most of these children are already at greater risk of abuse and neglect, and this has serious and dangerous repercussions.
Lack of access to clean water and sanitation for preventive hygiene and economic hardships are pushing many of these children living in the city’s makeshift slum settlements and streets to breaking point. The vulnerability of street children and young people is increasing, and as a result more are going to sleep hungry.
Every child has the right to basic needs, yet thousands of street children in Liberia are missing out.
The Street Child Fundraising Campaign members first met some of these kids fetching water in return for food. After taking the time to listen to some of their stories, we have been working to help feed them for as long as possible. To date, many children have been helped with food and toiletries, but that cannot be the end.
We will keep working hard to assist as many of these kids that we can, most especially by getting them into school and enabling them to attain either academic or vocational education. We want to give these kids a chance of a brighter future. If you want to help, kindly donate through the following ways:
Mobile Money: 0880332760
Orange Money: 0776350021
Western Union: Titus B. Kpakalah
Living on the street is hard. Homelessness kills.
Authored by Shazo
