The National Dialogue on Street-Connected Children organised by SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda through the CiSS-Seruka Project in collaboration with the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) has agreed to establish a steering committee to address the issues of children living in street situations.
The National Dialogue also highlighted some recommendations as follows;
• Improving procedures to identify and support vulnerable families across the country to help them get essentials basic needs such as scholastic materials and food, positive parenting, health care and protection.
• Strengthening partnerships between government, private sectors, childcare organizations and multilateral organizations to put an end to the children living in the streets.
• Conducting joint research to oversee the major root causes that push children to live in street situations
• Advocating for the establishment of social networkers and psychologists in the community to support children living in street situation.
The National Dialogue was attended by childcare organizations, government entities, civil societies and private sector representatives.
In her opening remarks, the Director General of the National Child Development Agency, Ms Assumpta Ingabire said that children should not spend their lives in street situations because the street is not a home/place for children.
“Street life is not for children, our children decided to go to the street due to family conflict, loss of parental care, abuse and other challenges. This National Dialogue on Street-Connected Children is a crucial forum to discuss issues that affect our children until they decide to go to street life.
No child should grow up on the street. When a child loses parental care, it is a loss for the government and the nation’s future," Assumpta stated.
She added that undertaking children’s issues is a mission for everyone not only SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda nor NCDA because it affects the future of our nation. “Children living in street situations are increasing and our main responsibility is to deal with the major root causes instead of dealing with the children who are affected,” she noted.
The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda Jean Bosco Kwizera has emphasized that streetism is a global challenge and responsibility of everyone.
Jean Bosco said, “Protecting children from the street situation is everyone’s concern and it benefits our country in the long run. As childcare entities, our main role is to strengthen our childcare systems to eradicate the serious issues that can hinder the future of our children’s and the Nation at large.
He added that SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda has reintegrated more than 2,000 children from street situations through the Seruka Project and other SOS CV Projects with continuous support to lead their families to be self-reliant.
Jean Bosco added, “Irresponsibility of the caregivers and extreme poverty contribute to a big percentage of leading children to the street life. Our main target through various projects is to empower caregivers through finance education and positive parenting to take care of their children.”
About Seruka Project
SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda kicked off the Seruka Project in early 2023. The five-year project targets to rehabilitate and reintegrate 7,800 children from street situations in their families and communities.
The project is targeting a reduction of prevalence of children in street situations in Rwanda through rehabilitation and reintegration interventions in four locations where SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda operates
The project is implemented in the districts of Gasabo, , Kayonza, Musanze, Kicukiro, , , Rubavu, NyarugengeNyagatare, and Bugesera. The choice of these districts was based on the study findings that indicated a high prevalence of children in street situations.