Authorities in Francistown vow to apply new strategies
Authorities in Francistown vow to apply new strategies
22 May, 2000
AUTHORITIES in Francistown have vowed to apply new strategies to solve the problem of glue sniffing by street children. This follows an increase in glue sniffing by street children, especially in the city centre.
Health authorities warned that glue sniffing was dangerous to health as this could damage the nervous system Interviewed by BOPA, the Francistown City Council’s Chief Community Development Officer, Polelelo Motshwaedi said the street children numbering more than 15 were a headache to the authorities.
Ms Motshwaedi said that they were once taken back to their respective schools but returned to the streets to make money through washing cars and doing other odd jobs.
Some of them have become beggars. She said some people once volunteered to assist them but the children were not interested to learn or to be engaged in skills that would bring them long term benefits.
Ms Motshwaedi said councillors also had an audience with the children with a view to assisting them but all in vain.
The aim was to engage them in horticulture, carpentry and upholstery at the city council’s plot number 911.
Ms Motshwaedi said the plans were underway to build a youth centre in Francistown to cater for them. BOPA
