In a bid to eradicate the increasing presence of street children selling goods on the streets of Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Republic of Liberia is set to launch the Street Child Project titled “Support A Child, Save The Future” today, August 28, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia.
The rapid growth of street children in Liberia has become a major cause for concern, instilling fear within the country and its surroundings.
The project marks the beginning of a five-year, nationally-driven initiative led by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to permanently relocate over 7,000 children from street vending activities across the nation.
The inception of the project followed a 2022 survey which revealed a staggering 366,584 children living in street conditions throughout the country.
Montserrado, accounting for 42% of these children, totaling 153,965, with Nimba, Bassa, Bong, and Margibi counties contributing another 42% and the remaining counties making up 16%.
The survey also identified the underlying causes of this crisis, with many children facing significant risks such as malnutrition, substance abuse, exploitation, violence, and human trafficking.
The initiative will begin in Monrovia before expanding to other regions as the program gains traction.
The launch signifies a pragmatic approach to permanently removing over 7,000 children from the streets, amounting to 20% of the total number.
The Government of Liberia has also prepared homes and holding centers for this project. Street children removed from street conditions will be taken to government-provided homes, where individuals will provide assistance in raising them.
Moreover, the project aims to empower 1,920 mothers and caregivers associated with these children, ensuring a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue.
This initiative directly and promptly addresses the necessity to safeguard and elevate vulnerable children residing on the streets, offering them the care, education, and opportunities essential for a brighter future.
By: Blesset D. Kpenkennie
