From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS: ZAMBIA: NGOS STEP IN TO HELP 'STREET KIDS'
Date: 13 Oct 92 03:48:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: gagme.1992Oct13.034803.23958
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Originator: barnhart@gagme

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Third World Dvpmnt
Title: ZAMBIA: NGOS STEP IN TO HELP 'STREET KIDS'


an inter press feature service

by katongo chisupa

lusaka, oct 5 (ips) -- concerned about the growing number of
''street kids'', zambia and some non-governmental organisations
have taken measures to help the children become responsible and
self-reliant.

although exact figures are not readily available, the
government's department of child welfare says ''evidence of the
existence of street kids abounds throughout the country's cities
and town''.

economic difficulties and family disintegration are among the
major reasons given for the the problem.

the difficulties have worsened since the introduction in 1989
of an ecomomic austerity package worked out by the world bank
and the international monetary fund (imf).

these measures saw the withdrawal of free education and
medical care. under an adjustment programme introduced by the
new government this year, the civil service is to be slashed.

a massive devaluation of the kwacha, the national currency,
and inflation accompanying the reforms has made the cost of
living for most zambians extremely difficult.

the minimum wage in zambia is 2,000 kwacha (about 11
dollars). the cost of a 25 kg bag of maize meal, the stapple, is
1,300 kwacha (7.2 dollars).

zambia, which has a population of about 8.5 million, has a
gross national product per capita of 390 dollars and a foreign
debt of about seven billion dollars.

early this year, 'street kids international', working closely
with the office of the international committee of the red cross
here, set up a ''drop in'' centre for ''street kids'' in garden
shanty area of this zambian capital.

'streets kids international' is mostly funded by canada.

richard sikombe (19) was the first ''street kid'' to
register at the centre. he had lived a life on lusaka's streets
for 10-years.

''it was rough life in the city'', says sikombe. ''we used to
guard cars and make a lot of money. but now it's dangerous and
the economy is bad. (more/ips)


zambia: ngos (2)

''the policemen in town arrest boys for loitering'', adds
sikombe who is doing carpentry and judo at the centre. ''these
people at the centre are good because they are helping us a lot.
you can see there is even free education''.

the centre hosts an average of 100 ''street kids'' -- all
boys -- every day, doing various activities, including basic
schooling, carpentry and drama.

''these boys have their own personal gardens within the centre.
we give give them seeds and tools. after they sell their produce
they pay us back 10 percent of their earnings'', says veronica
scott, a ''street kid'' educator at the centre.

''it's part of training them to be responsible'', adds scott.

the boys are provided with free food donated by the u.n.
world food programme (wfp). however, sometimes they are asked to
contribute ''something'' toward the centre's feeding scheme.

''if they do outstanding work, we give them free food'', says
scott.

louis mwewa, another ''street kids'' educator says street
children are becoming a serious problem: ''depending on the
availability of funds, we plan to extend to other parts of the
country''.

there are four street educators and one coordinator at the
centre.

''those two kids have no family ties whatsoever'', says
mwewa, pointing at the boys. ''we are looking for their
relatives. at the moment they are staying with our cook who
works for the centre''.

the two boys, aged between seven and eight years, had been
sleeping in an abandoned car for several months before they were
rescued three months ago by ''street kids international'',
through its ''outreach programme''.

''after counselling them for several days or weeks, they tend
to realise they need a future'', says mwewa. ''so far, we have
discharged 10-15 boys. they are now independent, leading normal
lives. they now do feel they are part of society''.

last year, a ''street kids'' study recommendated priority
be given to developing multi-purpose streetside activity centres
with special emphasis on open education, vocational training,
income-generation and recreation as part of local street
children programmes. (end/ips/kc/apc/oa/92)