Zambia's Voiceless Generation
MIMI Africana
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
The children are often traumatized by the death of parents, stigmatized through association with HIV and often thrown into poverty
by the loss of bread-winners. They live under enormous pressure and suffer depression and other psychological problems.
Young girls, in particular, are the first to be denied educational opportunities in favour of boys, and are forced into early marriages
with older men, which puts them at higher risk of HIV infection.
Children, both girls and boys, turn to the streets in search of a better life but the reality that confronts them can only be described as
grim. Street life creates extreme vulnerability to violence, exploitative and hazardous labour, sex work and trafficking. In fact,
internal trafficking of children has become rampant in Zambia. Sadly, there is little to no awareness of this social malaise.
Nothing short of a Herculean effort is required to help the growing legion of orphans in Zambia to lead normal lives. A holistic
approach which includes provisions for nutrition, health and cognitive development, and educational and psychosocial support is
required to effectively respond to the orphan crisis in the country. Addressing these basic needs at an early age would give
orphaned children a healthy start and more hopeful future. Strengthening family systems and community care mechanisms is
fundamental to this holistic approach because putting children into institutional homes can have a devastating effect on their self
worth and identity. Furthermore, there needs to be a concerted effort to keep children in school because it is one recognized
shelter that can help the children to discover their own potential.
.
The government must protect the children of Zambia with improved institutional, legal and social conditions, hopefully bringing an
end the need to ‘protect’ motorists from ‘street kids’ at traffic lights.
MIMI Africana
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
The children are often traumatized by the death of parents, stigmatized through association with HIV and often thrown into poverty
by the loss of bread-winners. They live under enormous pressure and suffer depression and other psychological problems.
Young girls, in particular, are the first to be denied educational opportunities in favour of boys, and are forced into early marriages
with older men, which puts them at higher risk of HIV infection.
Children, both girls and boys, turn to the streets in search of a better life but the reality that confronts them can only be described as
grim. Street life creates extreme vulnerability to violence, exploitative and hazardous labour, sex work and trafficking. In fact,
internal trafficking of children has become rampant in Zambia. Sadly, there is little to no awareness of this social malaise.
Nothing short of a Herculean effort is required to help the growing legion of orphans in Zambia to lead normal lives. A holistic
approach which includes provisions for nutrition, health and cognitive development, and educational and psychosocial support is
required to effectively respond to the orphan crisis in the country. Addressing these basic needs at an early age would give
orphaned children a healthy start and more hopeful future. Strengthening family systems and community care mechanisms is
fundamental to this holistic approach because putting children into institutional homes can have a devastating effect on their self
worth and identity. Furthermore, there needs to be a concerted effort to keep children in school because it is one recognized
shelter that can help the children to discover their own potential.
.
The government must protect the children of Zambia with improved institutional, legal and social conditions, hopefully bringing an
end the need to ‘protect’ motorists from ‘street kids’ at traffic lights.
