We’ve made impact on over 2,500 street children in 10 years — HSKi

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Home and Street Kids Welfare Initiative (HSKi), says it has made an impact on more than 2,500 children since its inception in 2014.

The NGO’s Executive Director/Founder, Miss Funmi Omisope, stated this while speaking with the newsmen on the sidelines of their 10th year anniversary in Ilorin on Tuesday.

She pointed out that street children not only beg but have become scavengers being used by unsuspecting adults.

Omisope said studies show a total number of 87,247 children are out of school in Kwara, adding that begging has become a generational profession for most out-of-school children.

“UNESCO statistics state that more than 18.3 million children are out of school,” she added.

The NGO Executive Director described the emerging situation of scavenging among kids as a time bomb, saying “until every street child is safe, no child is safe.

“They live with our children, and they could be used to commit atrocities and crimes.”

Omisope stated that Monday marked 10 years of HSKi’s meaningful impact on children who normally would not be associated with by the public in Ilorin.

“We discovered ‘Koro Afoju’ (colony of the blind) in 2018, and we discovered that most of those there were born into begging and were trained to beg.

“It is an occupation passed on from one generation to another,” she said.

Omisope said some of the street children were enrolled in free schools but could not fit in because of time, hygiene, and other personal reasons.

She said some of the street children were made beggars as a result of the impact of insurgency, COVID-19 and other harsh economic policies, aside disability.

“Every street child has potential, and we have made an impact on no fewer than 2,500 children since we began. We still have some of them in schools, and they are doing well.

“Basic education should be made totally free of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA). Rather, other incentives should be given to the parents.

“Women empowerment is also important in the formal education of children, especially street children.

“We should constantly look at issues pushing children to the streets, which in most cases is hunger.

“We appeal to individuals, corporations, and government organisations to partner with us and sponsor these children’s education and feeding.

“Remember, until every street child is safe, no child is safe,” Omisope added.