Don Bosco Reconciles Street Children and Parents
As Sierra Leone braces towards enhancing an enabling environment to ensure every child has access to education and free health care, hundreds of children are being subjected to child labour in every part of the country especially in the various towns.
Alfred Musa (alias) aged 14, has been on the streets of Freetown for over ten month for what he described as unfair treatment from his parent. Alfred said he has lost his mother a few years back, and his father married another wife, which he accused of subjecting him to child labour and slavery.
In his words ‘’My step-mother used to treat me very badly she gave me harsh treatment and I did odd jobs on a daily basis”. He said during his ten month stay on the street he has been involved in several bad and syndicated habits such as smoking, stealing, using drugs and a master of abusive language. He noted that he was later rescued by Don Bosco officials who adopted him to their home at Fourth Street, Freetown.
Talking to Don Bosco Project Manager, Abdulai J. Mansaray about Alfred, he explained that the boy is doing well in terms of conduct and he is currently engaged with the counseling department. He noted that Alfred is ready to go to school and the home is willing to enroll him in one of their schools.
The project manager furthered that he has been working with the family of this child to see how they can reconcile him and his family after the counseling process. He explained that, they have already contacted the Musa family who have consented to accept the boy back home.
He also confirmed that the step-mother had promised she will take great care of the boy and the father also promised to monitor the situation.
Don Bosco Fambul has been in existence for over a decade and has been doing extremely well in removing children, especially boys, off the street. According to the project manager Don Bosco Fambul deals with 200 to 700 children nationwide each week, and therefore urges Government to assist NGOs dealing with child issues in the country.
by Mary I Kamara, and Emma Black
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