Women Forum to Help Curb Street Begging
Women Forum to Help Curb Street Begging
The New Times (Kigali)
January 3, 2007
Posted to the web January 3, 2007
Willy Mugenzi
Huye
Butare Women Forum in collaboration with the National Police are set to curb the problem of the increasing numbers of street children roaming in Butare town.
This was disclosed during a children’s party organised by Butare Women Forum at Huye
District headquarters recently.
The idea comes after repeated complaints from shopkeepers over unprecedented increase of beggars who congest shop doors asking for money.
The district leadership also targets the development of tourism sector but was worried about the increased number of beggars who may disturb tourists.
Throughout the festive season, a number of women destitute, the blind and children stormed Butare town asking for money to start a New Year like most people feast during such days.
Beggars include street children and women who sit by roadside with their children.
Marking remarks on behalf of the Forum, the President of Women Forum and the district Vice-mayor in charge of welfare, Esperance Nyiraneza, urged parents to be watchful of their children’s growth patterns before they can run to the streets.
She said that street children who have been causing disorder in Butare town will temporarily be put in rehabilitation centres while those with parents will be re-integrated into their respective families.
It was noted that majority of street children are forced to run to the streets due to their parents’ unbearable behaviours.
According to police reports, unemployment and poverty have contributed much to street begging in the town.
Asked about the continued increase of women on the street, the Executive Secretary for Ngoma Sector Assumpta Ingabire said the sector had tried to provide loans to women to start some income generating activities but after a short time the same women are seen on streets arguing that they incurred losses in their business.
After feasting with over 120 homeless children, Women Forum members gave mathematic sets, pens and other scholastic materials to enable them go to school.
