President Joseph N. Boakai has attributed the situation of street urchins in Liberia to the waste of national resources and public corruption. Launching the Street Child Project’ titled “Support A Child, Save The Future,” Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, President Boakai said that the misuse of public resources has affected the lives of Liberian children negatively.
He said state actors must change their attitudes towards handling national resources for the betterment of children, as corruption in the public sector has ruined the future of every Liberian kid. Boakai said officials of government should live a simple life so others may benefit from the resources and support required from the government to develop their lives.
The President said if care is not given to every child, all children, irrespective of their status, will be affected by a bad child in the society, adding, “Your child will be affected if only you care about yours.””Under my watch, we will make sure that no child will be left in the streets and out of school. We will make sure that every child is kept in school. The streets are not for children,” the President said. Boakai: “I hope from this program some of us will start feeling guilty because we have taken the resources required for improving the lives of these children for ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Boakai has donated US$15,000 to the Minister of Gender as his initial personal contribution to ensure that children are kept off the streets.
For her part, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection, said the initiative highlights the collective efforts of the government to address the challenges faced by children in the streets.
“This effort underscores the beginning of a renewed and concerted effort to create a safer and more supportive environment for every child in Liberia. It symbolizes a significant commitment to the welfare of all Liberian children and is a crucial step towards securing their futures,” she said.
The Minister revealed that the “Support A Child, Save The Future” project was initiated following a 2022 survey which revealed that a staggering 366,584 children were living in street situations across the country.
Minister Horace-Kollie said the survey showed that Montserrado County alone accounts for 42% of these children, totaling 153,965, while Nimba, Bassa, Bong, and Margibi contribute another 42%, leaving the remaining counties with 16%. She said this crisis leaves many children facing severe risks, including malnutrition, substance abuse, violence, exploitation and human trafficking.
