First Lady pledges to assist street children

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa (right) has pledged to assist children living and working on the streets acquire formal and vocational education, which will help them realise their full potential.

During an interface with scores of children living on the streets at Town House in Harare yesterday, the First Lady said the vulnerable group could be ably assisted through equipping them with necessary skills and providing them with food and decent housing. Those without national identity documents — which are crucial when enrolling at various learning facilities — will also get a helping hand, she added.

“I am very concerned about the welfare of children living and working on the streets. Together with the Harare City Council and Department of Social Welfare, we sat down and discussed on how we can help so that you are taken off the streets,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

“There are many children who have been previously helped by the department and their lives changed for the good. You all have bright futures. I believe in you and your intelligence. I have realised that you have come a long way and some of you have painful backgrounds. However, you have not lost hope. Some of you have intentions to continue with your education, while some of you want training in vocational skills. That is what I have come to help you achieve. I am going to help those who want to go back to school, those who want skills training and those who want proper housing facilities,” she said.

The First Lady said she already had secured places for those that were willing to get life-skills.

“I want to help you reach your full potential in life and become respectable people in the society. I am going to be your mother and I will be your supervisor. All you have to do is to grab this opportunity and be focused on turning your life around. I heard that most of you are being abused by older people, you do not have adequate food and blankets. I am here to tell you that we are now starting a new chapter. All that you have been going through is now over.”

Those who want to pursue sports, she added, will be assisted through the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.

Speaking at the same occasion, provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Mr Ernest Chimboza said Government also offered training services that could be lifechanging to children living and working on the streets. The skills include financial literacy, business planning, pricing and costing, skills training, food processing and detergent making. Mr Chimboza also indicated that the training would help the trainees secure funding from institutions such as Women’s Bank; Small to Medium Enterprises Development Cooperation (SMEDCO) and get training from institutions such as the recently opened IndiaAfrica Incubation Centre. Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation acting provincial head Mr Paul Mashaba said they would be working closely with the First Lady to help improve the children’s lives.