Rehabilitation of Street Children

2007-04-17T04:08:00.000-07:00

I would like to present to you in a sketchy form the various facets of the HCUAP dream. However, due to lack of the necessary means to begin such a huge project in the dream of HCUAP, we have started with the Street Children Rehabilitation Programme only, while trusting that HCUAP will continue to grow in the shantytowns with the love and the grace of our gentle Jesus.

Street Children Rehabilitation Programme

Night and Day Walks to identify children taking refuge in the streets and observing the debilitating and vulnerable conditions that these children are faced with in the streets,

Invitation and Admission into Centres: During night and day walks, volunteers invite children to the Centres at their own convenience. They are never pressurized to come to our Centres but they are gradually made to understand their own condition and to leave the streets out of their own free will

I) Rehabilitation

(II) Non-formal education

(III) Community housing - Feeding, work, group sharing, health care, etc.

(IV) Counselling

(V) Sports and Recreation

VI) House Visitation to parents or relatives with the children.

VII) Return of child to home after maximum of six months in the Centre

VIII) Follow-up visits to homes to ensure that the child stays at home.

IX) Look for sponsors for child's formal education back at home or engagement in any technical or economic activity of child's choice.

Child Rights Resource Centre (CRRC)

The fundamental reality behind the establishment of a Child Rights Resource Centre (CRRC) is the recognition by HCUAP that children do in fact have rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child lays down a powerful international law, which both recognizes and protects the human rights of children. HCUAP Volunteers must recognize that children need special protection and care because they are physically and mentally young. Children have the same human rights as adults, including the rights to have their voices heard and for what they say to be taken into account.

A) What are children’s right?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has broken all records as the most popular human rights treaty in history. This is what the convention says: Every child has the right:

· To life, a name and a nationality

· Not to be separated from his or her parents against their will

· To freedom of expression and participation in decisions affecting them

· To freedom of association

· To protection from all forms of physical and mental violence

· To be protected from economic exploitation

· To the highest attainable standard of health; and every mentally and physically

· Disabled child shall have the right to enjoy a full and decent life

· To an education

· To rest, leisure and to participation in cultural and artistic life.

It remains a fact, that there are thousands of children in every city in Africa who do not enjoy even one of these basic rights. It is for this and other reasons that these children flee their homes and families hoping to find refuge in the streets since we no longer open our hearts and homes to the marginalized children in our communities. Therefore the Child Rights Resource Centre aims at sensitising the community about the rights of the child and to bring justice to situations where children are abused and deprived of their most basic rights, be they by their parents, relatives or the community. The Child Rights Resource Centre also ensures that children capable of forming their own views are given the right to express those views in all matters affecting them. The essence of HCUAP recognizing that children have rights is to enable them to participate in decisions that affect them and listening to what they have to say. As children grow up in the community, they are able to take an increasing part in decision-making and can make a valuable contribution. Children may not always have the language and assertiveness to make their point effectively but this does not mean that have no valid point to make.

The increasing pathetic situation of children looking for shelter in the streets is a sign of the fact that thousands upon thousands of children are denied their most basic rights. The government, the community, you and I, everyone contributes to this awful situation. In the light of the work of HCUAP, the Child Rights Centre encourages the community to listen to the young vulnerable voices of their children. The Street Children Rehabilitation Programmer will only be extinct when there will be no single child left in the streets. And this is our prayer for a better world. Volunteers of the Child Rights Centre sensitize the community to come to the awareness that:

Children can be encouraged by their parents, relatives and guardians to make their views known at home, at school at work - everywhere.
Children can be involved in the organization and running of their school
Government at national and local levels can involve children as part of their decision making process on matters affecting children.
Children can be encouraged and helped to set up their own organizations to make their views known.

The CRRC will try to initiate and co-ordinate research and information projects to increase the understanding of children's living conditions, and support the implementations of their most basic rights. HCUAP takes the saying of Jesus "suffer not the little ones to come to me ", as the foundation for its work, believing that all children have the absolute right to reach their full potential, free of disease, poverty and exploitation. The CRRC works to develop long-term solutions to the very serious problems faced by young people every day and, wherever possible, gives children a voice to help determine their own future. Every child deserves a decent chance in life and the CRRC works with children and families in the slum communities to help them over-come the effects of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect. We provide a strong voice for children by campaigning for their rights, needs and protection.

B. Counselling Programme

Initiation of Alcoholic Anonymous Groups
Counseling of Addicts to Alcohol and drugs
Street visits to prostitutes and invitation to Centres for counseling.
HIV-A1DS counseling and seminars
Counseling of mal-adjustments; psychotherapy for the despair and those with critical psychosocial problems resulting from poverty, sickness and despair.

C. Community Health Care Programme

Daily visits to families in the shantytowns

· Health care seminars

· Door-to-Door health examination of children and referring them to health Centres

D. Community Non-Formal Education Programme

· Adult Literacy

· Non-Formal Education

· Basic Education to children in the slums who do not have the opportunity to go to school

· Community technical and child care education for school dropout girls and other girls in the slums who have never had the opportunity of going to school

E. Youth Centre for Moral and Developmental Formation

Bible Sharing Groups
Fight Poverty Initiatives:
Encouraging youths not to despair in the situation in which they find themselves but to initiate small projects for the generation of incomes for their own upkeep.
Recreation, Theatre Art and Music
Information Technology

I am very glad to have come this far in presenting to the Holy Cross Urban Apostolate Programme for street children.

ACTIVITIES AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HOLY CROSS URBAN APOSTOLATE PROGRAM

The Holy Cross Missionaries is a non governmental organization, a body of religious men and lay faithful who have opted to work in the streets at night and during the day to try and give help to children whose dwelling is on the street as a result of the following reasons: divorce, poverty, violence, witch craft /demonic possession.

Holy Cross Urban Apostolate Program HCUAP(for street children) began its activities in Bamenda, North West province of Cameroon on the 14^th of September 2006; when we assembled more than 30 street children, at the Stadium, for a Cock tail party.

During this gathering we bring them to a better awareness of their vulnerable condition. This exercise continued almost every week, by the roadside until we secured a home for the same purpose. Eventually it became an observation center and residential home for street children in Bamenda.

Our mission

The various activities of HCUAP for street children, geared towards returning children to their families, providing formal or non formal education and protecting the rights of children.

Achievements between September,2006 and March 2007.

Two children have been reintegrated in their families and our periodic follow-up visits has proven that one of the two is actually doing fine at home.

More than 7 children have been protected from economic exploitation, through our door-to-door sensitization, especially to those concerned.

We have gathered about 21 children in the observation center, where we identify the problem of every individual child residing in the center or pays constant visit to the center.

5 of the children under observation are self-employed and they have learnt the need to save their money. Opened a savings account for the children earning little income.

Opening of a feeding center, where vulnerable children can have access to meals at least once a day.

Arrangement has been made in some technical workshops around the town where children who are willing and ready to learn a trade could be trained free of charge

Our activities

Sports and recreation

Computer awareness/ non-formal education

Counseling

Community housing: feeding, work, group sharing, health care etc

Follow-up visit to families or relatives to ensure that children stay in their homes

Look for sponsors for child’s formal education back at home or engagement in any technical or economic activity of child’s choice.

Project in mind

(A) Building of a rehabilitation center in which we shall carry out the vocational trainings for boys and girls respectively.

The Vocational training project shall include carpentry and Tailoring, where in the street based population will be trained to alternate garner skills which will help them to have an alternate dignified vocation, which will give them dignity in life. The project will set up a independent training unit where the street based adolescent and youth population will be given intensive training in building there skills on different vocations. This is a residential project where the boys will be staying in the same premises. This project will have the following objectives:

1. To take the adolescent/youth of the street, to give alternate income generation scheme.

2. To impart training to the street based population of adolescent and youth so at to enable them to sustain themselves and there dependents.

3. To give gainful employment-self or job placement.

4. To inculcate the habit of savings in a nationalized bank.

5. To reunite with their families.

(B)Computer Classes for children

(C)Visitation to the prison, Counseling, paying visits to the family of the imprisoned at his or her request.

ACTIVITIES AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HOLY CROSS URBAN APOSTOLATE PROGRAM

Our mission

The various activities of HCUAP for street children, geared towards returning children to their families, providing formal or non formal education and protecting the rights of children.

Achievements between September,2006 and March 2007.

Two children have been reintegrated in their families and our periodic follow-up visits has proven that one of the two is actually doing fine at home.

More than 7 children have been protected from economic exploitation, through our door-to-door sensitization, especially to those concerned.

We have gathered about 21 children in the observation center, where we identify the problem of every individual child residing in the center or pays constant visit to the center.

5 of the children under observation are self-employed and they have learnt the need to save their money. Opened a savings account for the children earning little income.

Opening of a feeding center, where vulnerable children can have access to meals at least once a day.

Arrangement has been made in some technical workshops around the town where children who are willing and ready to learn a trade could be trained free of charge

Our activities

Sports and recreation

Computer awareness/ non-formal education

Counseling

Community housing: feeding, work, group sharing, health care etc

Follow-up visit to families or relatives to ensure that children stay in their homes

Look for sponsors for child’s formal education back at home or engagement in any technical or economic activity of child’s choice.

Project in mind

(A) Building of a rehabilitation center in which we shall carry out the vocational trainings for boys and girls respectively.

1. To take the adolescent/youth of the street, to give alternate income generation scheme.

2. To impart training to the street based population of adolescent and youth so at to enable them to sustain themselves and there dependents.

3. To give gainful employment-self or job placement.

4. To inculcate the habit of savings in a nationalized bank.

5. To reunite with their families.

(B)Computer Classes for children

(C)Visitation to the prison, Counseling, paying visits to the family of the imprisoned at his or her request.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Name of the project

Holy Cross Urban/ Rural Apostolate program for street children

Introduction

HCUAP is a voluntary Non Government Organization that has been actively working with street children/adolescents, homeless youth (male and Female) in Drug addiction since 2006. Since the last couple of months, HCUAP has been working very closely on the issue of STREET CHILDREN in Douala and Bamenda, Cameroon. It has been registered as a non governmental association in Cameroon, with the Ref. Number 025/E.29/1111/VOL8/APPB ( BAMENDA MEZAM DIVITION)

We are aspiring to join the National Network for street children. since 1994. We are yet to receive grants from ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. HCUAP has only been receiving financial assistance from Family and the friends of the Holy Cross in Nigeria and Cameroon.

We have a residential center for children below the age of 18 years who have been under the influence of drugs. Our focus area is reduction of risk behaviour leading to drug abuse and HIV/AIDS infection. We do extensive outreach on the various areas in Bamenda to reach out large number of street children. While doing this our focus is always been on the children who use drugs, the handicaps and all other less privileged children. Our emphasis here is to give basic values so they grow up as compassionate human beings. They not only become financial earning members of the society but they also have basic human values and attitude. The focus is here on character building of children who come from the street background.

Our Vision

To give children better access to education, recreation and an environment conducive to health and well being of the individual.

Our Mission

To reduce the incidence of HIV and Drug Use among street children, homeless youth, commercial sex workers and street families.

Our Goals

Education

- Alphabetization/ Literacy of the street populace

- Enrollment of children showing interest into regular schools.

Health

- Reduce the stress and anxiety caused by street life

- Improve physical and mental condition through nutrition and hygiene, awareness programs

- Prevention of HIV/AIDS and other STDs as well as Care and Support for those in need

- Immunization of children in street families.

Rehabilitation

- Detoxification through medical treatment.

- Economic, spiritual and social development of the street populace to promote a healthy lifestyle

- Vocational training for productive jobs in society

- Reunite runaway street children with their families as and when possible.

Contact information

Holy Cross Urban Apostolate Program

         For street children

P.o.box 102 Mankon Bamenda

Cameroon, Central Africa.

Telephone:   +237 5190069,  +237 5206638

E-mail : hcuap@aol.fr  ,   holycrossurbanapostolate@yahoo.fr

Blogspot:   http://streetchildrenbamenda.blogspot.com

HCUAP

OUR HIGH LIGHTS

HOLY CROSS URBAN APOSTOLATE PROGRAMME FOR STREET CHILDREN IN BAMENDA

JUSTIFINCATION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER

Over the years, we have realised that economic rehabilitation should be part of our programme. This is necessary for the boys who are not in the school going age. Economic self-reliant is the foundation for behaviour change. Unless the boys are taken off the streets, it is not possible to come out of the risk behaviour. As most of them are runaways at a very young age, they have no education or any other skills. The skills that they have developed on the street were for survival in that situation. To get them into the main stream of the society, which is a main objective, you need vocational training where they can earn their own livelihood.

Vocational training programme was initiated with Computer Literacy , which was very successful. The boys were very enthusiastic and they came for training in Children Computer Center CCC, (a branch of the HCUAP) everyday in the morning or evening. Carpentry section is very much in demand so we hope to start this program and this training is a long-term course for a year. The boys during their training will make various wooden materials like cabinet holder, small showcase, tables, file cabinet, etc. There will also be a Welding section where they will be trained for a year to learn various articles like grill, shutters and other fancy articles. These training sections will also receive contracts from various people to repair their homes.

1. To take the adolescent/youth of the street, to give alternate income generation scheme.

2. To impart training to the street based population of adolescent and youth so at to enable them to sustain themselves and there dependents.

3. To give gainful employment-self or job placement.

4. To inculcate the habit of savings in a nationalized bank.

5. To reunite with their families.

Number of boys and girls to be trained under this project at a periodic interval.

COURSES	PERIOD OF COURSE	COST PER MONTH FOR EACH PARTICIPANTS
Carpentry	Two batches of 15 each participants for ten monthly course.	4000FCFA
Welding	Two batches of 10 each participants for eighteen monthly course.	4500FCFA
Computer literacy	Four batches of 20 each participants for three monthly course.	9500FCFA
Total

Total Costs

Carpentry 1200000Frs (600000Frs for each batch)

Weldding 1620000Frs (810000Frs for each batch)

Computer literacy 2280000Frs( 570000Frs for each batch)

Total 5100000Francs CFA

OTHER NEEDS

Health care 600.000Frs

Workers salary 200.000Frs for Four workers monthly

House rent, water/electricity bills 70.000frs monthly.

Total 870.000Francs CFA

Feeding:

This takes about 350.000Francs CFA monthly. This has been taken care of by our little daily income in the sales of fire wood around Banja street, Bamenda where the center is situated. And the founder Rev, Edward Luma OCSO takes care of part of the ‘Other needs’. We depend on every little contribution of the General public for the continuity of our activities with street children in Bamenda.

http://bamendastreetchildren.blogspot.com

For more information on how to support HCUAP, or if you wish to know more about our street children rehabilitation center or whatever this page might not have explicitly presented.

contact

+2375190069 +2375206638

holycrossurbanapostolate@yahoo.fr hcuap@aol.fr