World Street Children News

SPARC starts campaign for street children’s rights

Friday, October 06, 2006
Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) has started a campaign to raise awareness about the rights of street children in collaboration with Save the Children, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK) in Peshawar.

“The project aims at raising awareness among children about their rights, protection issues and empower them to protect themselves as well as other children in the area from abuse, exploitation and providing access to psycho-social support, education, recreation, health facilities and reintegrate street children into their homes and parents,” said Jahanzeb Khan, the SPARC regional manager.

“We (NGOs) require a law on the pattern of the Punjab Borstral Schools Act and Sindh Bortsal Schools Act to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuses,” he said.

He said that the government had the responsibility to provide protection to all children, especially street children, which, he said, were the victims of various social evils. He said that according to the UN convention on children’s rights, government were required to make all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse. He said that the society was trying to promote and protect the rights of children.
Courtesy DailyTimes.com.pk

Navi Mumbai News / Mermier Bal Ashram: a ray of hope for street children

Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: October 6: Young children doing odd jobs like polishing shoes, picking rags, working at small eateries, begging at the traffic signals etc., are a common sight in our city. Most of these kids have fled from their home for various reasons and live on streets. The hunger pangs lead these kids towards these weird jobs or begging,

The sad state of these kids smashes our claims of being a modern and progressive city. However, all hope is not yet lost. Non-governmental organizations like Jan Vikas Society (JVS) are trying to create a better world, fit for all children irrespective of caste, colour, creed and sex.

History

The pitiable plight of street children at Navi Mumbai instigated the JVS Secretary Fr. Francis Mulackal to set up a rehabilitation center for the less privileged street children at Koparkhairne in 1996.

Centers and its activities

From past nine years this ashram is providing vocational guidance, formal and non-formal education and holistic care to around 50 street children. “My heart used to bled by seeing the miserable plight of street children deprived of basic necessities. Around six years ago I got to know about Mermier Bal Ashram and since then I am working with them. Now I am quite content as I know that I am involved in helping the street children to become good and useful citizens rather then thieves or beggars”, says JVS volunteer Prakash Gaikwad.

JVS has established six centers at Mankhurd, Turbhe Store, Panvel, Indiranagar, Koparkhairne and Turbhe naka. The volunteers of this society are constantly working for the brighter future of socially and economically backward children.

‘Florina’ and ‘Vaduz Bal Ashram’ at Taloja and Panvel respectively, are the two units of JVS that facilitates free of cost housing, clothing, medical care along with education and entertainment to approximately 70 children. Out of that 58 are attending schools and other are undergoing variety of vocational training.

These centers also provide ‘one-time meal’ and medical care to around 250 children. To make these kids financially independent JVS imparts diverse skills such as training in printing, electronic, computers, carpentry, wielding, file making, etc.

Future plans
JVS plans to open more centers in order to provide assistance to more street children, who are still leading wretched lives.

Preeti Gupta

PE street kids up for murder
06/10/2006 20:29  - (SA)  

Port Elizabeth - Four street children were denied bail after appearing in a Port Elizabeth court on murder charges on Friday, said police.

Superintendent Johann van Greunen said the three girls were sent to the St Albans prison and the boy was taken to the North End prison after their appearance at the new law court.

The four, aged between 13 and 14, were arrested after 52-year-old Quinton Boutell was stabbed to death in Newton Park on Wednesday.

He was also robbed of a cellphone, a wallet and a pair of shoes.

Boutell, a prominent former jockey, and his girlfriend were walking home from a local pub in Newton Park when the four children approached them.

Boutell was stabbed in the chest and fell through the window of a shop after being pushed. He died instantly.

Murder raises concerns over violence

The State will provide legal aid to the children while police search for their parents.

The Herald online reported that the murder raised concerns about increasing violence displayed by street children in the area.

A police officer, Gerald Kota, involved in the rehabilitation of street children said that street children are becoming entangled with "drug lords" who use them to break into homes and even encourage them to kill.