The number of orphan and vulnerable children has increased in Lubumbashi. Most of these children are coming from Kasai Province. Due to economic hardships, nearly three-fourths of households of the Kasai people live in poverty. Many families eat only one meal or less each day. Because of poor social conditions, many of these children are victims of ill-treatment. They are accused of witchcraft and blamed for families’ HIV/AIDS misfortune or poverty misfortune. Nevertheless, family members are taking advantage of this to justify their persecution. This has therefore forced them to leave and move to Lubumbashi in inhuman conditions, such as jumping on the freight train’s top (phenomenon called Armstrong). So, they are often electrocuted or carried away by the train’s draft and are dying.
Sammu
These displacements are causing death or many children being isolated from relatives. They have nowhere to live but in open streets and markets. In order to survive, they are occupied day and night with an exhausting combination of small activities. They are working in Nganda or Kabale (Dancing Club/Bar) and washing minerals (Ndandash) which are toxic, without rubber gloves or work gloves. Their lives are at risk. They face social and psychological challenges. For example, in April 2008, two orphaned children (13 year-old boy and 14 year-old girl) wounded themselves critically. They wanted to commit suicide because of life pressures. But, by God’s grace, people who found them twisting, took them to the closest Medical Center for treatments (Lubumbashi TV Mwangaza). Is evident by now, these children suffer and need the community’s hand. Many initiatives and social programs may protect children who have been thrown out, reduce the incidence of child suicide, pregnancy and illiteracy significantly. We think that the more intervention services a child receives, the more life conditions improve and lower risks, displacements, witchcraft phenomenon, pregnancy, suicide and illiteracy. It is for this very reason we paid school fees, uniforms, pens and exercise books. We shared Christmas gifts. We organized extracurricular activities, such as visits to the Zoo and museum. We paid also close attention to medical care. These could sustain them socially and intellectually.
More initiatives and strategies are necessary to reach a great number of orphaned children in Lubumbashi including underprivileged children from Kasai who have been dropped, rejected from family members and have not been offered a hand of friendship. They need much help to pull themselves above the degrading situation they had been thrown into by sending them to school or skills training center.
This Ministry is for all orphan and vulnerable children who had been so ignored by the community. However, the more we get involved in the variety of dealing with these children, the more we feel there is a lot to learn and to do. A basic minimum care through education and skills training or programs that give income generating initiatives, such as sewing, carpentry and electronics, can mold them to fit into society.
Your love can give them a clear indication of what they are expected to do.
By Njimbu
Sammu
