Street kids feted

THE year 2018 started with smiles on the faces of street kids’ as Godfrey Kids Centre and Initiative (GKCI) shared breakfast with them on New Year’s Day in Lusaka.

GKCI founder Godfrey Simukonde said his decision to feed and interact with the kids was to change their mindset for them to realize that they were not alone and people still appreciated and valued their lives.

“It is not always their fault that they are on the streets, but it is something due to circumstances and situations beyond their control. Listen to their stories and not just judge and condemn them without knowing the cause of their problem,” Mr. Simukonde said

He said GKCI had managed to reintegrate some street kids into society by reuniting them with their families and hoped by the end of this June, the remaining ones could be removed from the streets.

“We are starting with the girls. We shall provide shelter and counselling so that we reintegrate them into society as they are the most vulnerable and endangered on the streets. We want to see to it that there are no more kids on the streets of Lusaka. We can achieve it and we are going to do it,” he said

He called on the public to come on board and help the kids by empowering them once they were reintegrated into society; and not just condemn them because they still had potential to add value to society.

“If we continue allowing these kids on the streets, we risk having a country where these children can rise against authorities, cause mayhem; and increase the crime rate,” he said.

Mr. Simukonde said there was need to enact a law to deter children from being on the streets and penalize erring families.

He appealed to President Lungu to take a leading role in the fight against street kids in Zambia.