Article By: Lloyd M’bwana
The country’s constitution clearly put safety net for children with subtitle penal codes criminalizing perpetuators of any abuse including defilement, rape, school corporal punishments, child labor, trafficking and forced marriage among others.
Though efforts are being made to arrest the vices, children are still subjected to abuses and injustices with reports of such cases remain alarming which have resulted into flourishing of street kids in major towns and cities of Malawi.
Street kids search for refuge and daily needs in these areas though the trade is dangerous towards their well-being as torture remain the same from misguided individuals who also seek solace in them for sexual satisfactions especially in young girls.
Currently, the nation does not have clear figures of street children living in towns and cities in a bid to establish proper interventions towards their well-being.
Thus, Tikondane Care for Children in or off the Streets (TCCS), a faith-based organization in the capital Lilongwe has become a balcony refuge for such marginalized children since 1997 as over 700 street kids are supported yearly through psycho-social, spiritual and formal education programs for their upbringing that are later re-united with families.
Not only street kids are supported but also orphans get assistance from TCCS. For instance, Elia Kafusa now a third year student in Computer Engineering at DMI-St. John Baptist University in the lakeshore district of Mangochi is one of the TCCS’s beneficiaries whose future looks bright.
“Based on what I was going through as soon as my parents passed away without Tikondane, honestly by now could be lost in the streets. But life is just too good with all basic needs provided for my education from primary till tertiary. The future looks bright as just only a year to go before I finish my studies towards independent life”, delighted Elia.
The Maravi Post caught up with Sr.Anna Massawe, Tikondane Project Coordinator on major outreach activities carried in 2015 while looking ahead in the New Year, 2016 with hope and passion in rescuing children from various torture and abuses.
Sr.Massawe described the year end as a challenging one with lack of sponsorships for needy students in tertiary education as well-wishers did not come forthwith for support.
“We are currently supporting 700 children who have been subjected to different abuses and torture from parents, relatives those expected to provide protection. For instance, in the year, we received 10 children through courts who were sexually abused. With such increase in number, meeting their needs still remain a challenge.
“Development partners, well-wishers aren’t coming forthwith for financial support especially students who thrive for tertiary education. In 2015 alone, six students qualified for private and
public universities but funds weren’t permissible for them to be enrolled. As such, we appeal for more support from the corporate world towards our program in rescuing children from abuses for better well-being”.
“Suffice to such appeal, parents have an obligation to provide basic needs to their children. For the years, we have in operation, lack of parental guidance, abuses and torture by relatives who were supposed to provide protection to these children happened to be perpetuators of their suffering. Some relatives and parents even send them to beg in streets due to poverty who are later abused in the process”, complains Sr. Massawe.
Tikondane is run by the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) in collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe with holistic approach in offering hands-on care and protection to children at risk through provision of shelter, formal education, psycho-social and spiritual support who are later united with their families.
