By Bill W. Cooper
President Joseph Boakai has committed to supporting vulnerable children in Liberia through an initial donation of US$15,000 to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) ‘Street Child Project.’
The President made the generous donation when he officially launched the project yesterday, August 28, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, marking a significant move to address the growing crisis of street children in Liberia.
The initiative, launched under the theme: “Support A Child, Save The Future,” also marked the beginning of a five-year national effort to be led by the MGCSP aimed at permanently removing over 7,000 children from the streets across the country.
Officially launching the initiative, President Boakai also emphasized the importance of addressing the plight of street children across the country, and stressed, “We should not just listen to our children’s plight but to act because their plight is our responsibilities.”
According to him, now is the time for Liberians to take full responsibility for the well-being of all vulnerable children, particularly those living and selling on the streets across the country.
The President also highlighted the collective responsibility of society including the government to ensure that every child has access to education, healthcare, and a safe and nurturing environment.
“Today is a remarkable day in the lives of our children that we all normally referred to as our future leaders and as such, let’s us not treat this initiative as an event or video documentary as being done in the past,” he reminded.
“Like I said before and always say, it is time that we ensure that the resources of this country be for everybody especially the children who are not in school and are selling on the streets between cars as well as other struggling parents,” he noted.
Boakai maintained, “Let’s us also know that we, as government and citizenry, have a greater responsibility not just to the children that we bring into this word but every single being on this earth.”
“So I want to thank the Ministry of Gender for its efforts in launching the ‘Street Child Project’, which aims to provide support and assistance to our children living and selling on the streets of Liberia,” he added.
He expressed hope that the project will help to improve the lives of these vulnerable children and give them a chance for a better future, and assured, “As President, I will make sure that no child be left in the street and out of school.”
The President further called on the private sector and other well-meaning Liberians including partners to join hands in supporting initiatives that benefit vulnerable children across Liberia.
Earlier, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie disclosed that the project launched underscores Liberia’s renewed commitment to creating a safer and more supportive environment for every child as a crucial step toward securing their futures.
She revealed that the “Support A Child, Save The Future” project was developed following a 2022 survey revealing that a staggering 366,584 children were living in street situations across Liberia.
Montserrado County alone accounts for 42 percent of these children, totaling 153,965, with Nimba, Bassa, Bong, and Margibi Counties contributing to another 42 percent, with the survey identifying various root causes of said crisis including malnutrition, substance abuse, violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.
She disclosed that the project aims to permanently remove 73,317 children, representing 20 percent of the total, from street situations; the pilot phase, which will span one year, will focus on Montserrado County, targeting the removal of 7,698 children, or 5% of the county’s total.
Minister Horace-Kollie added that the project will empower 1,920 mothers and caregivers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis, protect and uplift vulnerable street children by providing them with care, education, and opportunities needed for a brighter future.
The Gender boss at the same time reveled that in that light, the Ministry, on August 14, 2024, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Street Child-Liberia to help recruit and enroll 50,000 children from the streets over the next six years.
She added that under the agreement, Street Child will mobilize resources and collaborate with the Ministry to place these children in school and provide livelihood support or grants to their parents.
In remark also, the Country Director for Street Child-Liberia, Andrew Tehmeh, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, describing it as a worthy initiative, and said, “This is a worthy cause, and we are glad to be a part of today’s launching.”
Tehmeh added, “I want to encourage all Liberians to join this effort. This is a major opportunity to make an impact and help children who are out of school and wandering the streets.”
