Allowing vulnerable children to be left behind from efforts improving access to education will only perpetuate their cycle of poverty and the countless human rights violations they face on the streets every day. Providing them with access to education can not only provide safe spaces and security whilst they are on the streets, but also opportunities to move away from the streets and go on to lleave happy and healthy adult lives.

It is time to take action to ensure street children no longer remain invisible, and are able to benefit from the efforts towards inclusive and quality education for all.

Whilst enrolment may be free in many countries, the numerous hidden costs of education such as uniforms and textbooks means that many families and street children simply cannot afford to be in mainstream schools. Moreover, for the many street children who are driven to the streets by poverty, attending schooling would take time away from income generating activities. Whilst no child should have to engage in work that limits their educational opportunities, to stop earning money and attend full-time schooling is simply not realistic for all children, especially when their families’ survival depends on it. Many feel proud of their work and feel a sense of duty to contribute to their families.

The most obvious drawback is that many children are likely not getting a formal education or for those in school, not spending enough time learning in a safe space or getting the basic things that can keep them in school.. They are therefore not likely to develop some of the critical skills or tools with which they can succeed in this century

When unsupervised and unattended, they tend to band together in little gangs over time- whether boys or girls, and they become bolder, and more daring with time. Eventually they can become armed criminal gangs who can perpetrate or be used to commit any kind of crime for a fee.

These children are easily sexually molested, as well as physically and emotionally abused- indeed the act of abandoning them to the streets in the first place is a form of emotional and psychological abuse, and neglect and so this is a vicious cycle which can have serious repercussions. Worse still, they can be killed or lured into ritualistic murder.

They are very likely also not getting any health care and these emotionally scarred individuals become formidable criminals because there is precious little else being created for these young people – they cannot visualize a future that is better than their present and they are ripe as mules for the drug and the small arms trades that we are combatting in Nigeria.

This explosion of street children is a disturbing trend which I hope, like the growing mounds of trash all over Lagos will once again be a priority for the administration and thus soon be a thing of the past. These children need to be taken off the streets and protected. Having volunteered in the past with the state children’s homes, I know this had been a relatively well-developed component of the workings of the state, and they could still be a reasonable stop gap to urgently address the vulnerability of these children.

Children under 15 years of age account for 45 percent of Nigeria’s population of 182 million people. The total number of out-of-school children in Nigeria for example remains at 10.5 million. According to the United Nations Children Fund, this represents the highest number of children in the world who cannot go to school.

It is now a common sight to see increasing numbers of children hanging around day and night, many of them attempting to wipe windshields in traffic, peering into cars and begging/praying/singing, hanging around street corners, busy traffic intersections, malls and shopping areas. They look unkempt, for the most part, and are sometimes armed with plastic bottles of dirty looking soapy water, a brush and they are quick on their feet. Usually they are playing and darting around and once traffic stops or you park, they mill around the car and start singing/begging mournfully. The total number of out-of-school children in Nigeria for example remains at 10.5 million. According to the United Nations Children Fund, this represents the highest number of children in the world who cannot go to school.

MotherAid SchoolMe project” is design to keep children in school and take vulnerable children off the streets to school
While schools have reopened formally, children are still struggling with their studies. The prolonged gap has led to the loss of learning opportunities and many important life skills for children. Many of them were even forced to drop out of school during this gap and discontinue their education. If not addressed on time this learning crisis can lead to children dropping out of school permanently putting their bright futures at stake.
Imagine life without the ability to read or do basic math. For more than 56% of elementary-aged children around the world who don’t meet minimum reading proficiency standards, the future can look bleak.

Together, we can do more than just get kids in the classroom — we can empower them for a brighter future. Equipped with literacy as well as essential life skills, they can grow into adults who earn higher wages, educate their own children, and know how to help transform their community.

You’ll help kids break the cycle of poverty by providing resources like:

Teaching and learning materials

Setup and facilitation of early education centers and afterschool clubs

Distribution of school supplies and books , uniforms and school wears

Training for children and communities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in schools, and support for girls to transition to and complete secondary school

Skills training to support adolescents in achieving educational and life goals

Collaboration with leaders and governments to improve the quality of education

Educational support for kids in the toughest places, including emergency settings

To address this issue, motherAid has set up Academic and Psychosocial Support project to help children on the streets reconnect to their studies and give them the necessary confidence to go back to school by –
Conducting support classes using interactive audio-visual platforms to bridge the learning gap and protect children from dropping out of school
Retaining motivation levels among children through fun and creative activities like storytelling, singing, dancing, etc
Conducting awareness drives on the importance of education for communities and parents and protecting them from child marriage and child labour
Forming children’s collectives to build the agency of children to promote their well-being and give them the confidence to pursue their aspirations..
WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP

With the help of this initiative and your incredible support, we have reached 500 children so far. We are counting on you to help us reach 60000 more children and raise 10million Naira so that they can continue their education.

Your support to MotherAid SchoolMe project at this critical time will give the vulnerable children a chance to chase their dreams, restore thier self confidence and build thier self esteem…. We can do it if we try…
Donate now