News

Children loitering on the streets will soon have a smile following government’s move to launch a programme that will see them integrated into society.

The Executive Secretary of the National Children`s Commission (NCC), Zaina Nyiramatama, told The Sunday Times that currently, a survey is being conducted countrywide to identify the main reason why children end up on streets.

“This will give us a starting point on how we can reduce or protect more children from becoming street kids,” said Nyiramatama.

She was addressing the media shortly after a meeting that brought representatives of the Gender ministry, NCC and civil society organisations.

They had met to discuss a draft report on the current situation of children living in orphanage centres and to find a solution for them.  Nyiramatama said that they are working integrate street children into the families.

The draft report is a product of a survey conducted in 33 recognised orphanages in the country which are home to 3153 children.

According to the report, the biggest per centage of children in orphanage centres is a result of death of parents. Others are there because of poor child care in their homes while other were abandoned, among other factors.