NGOs in DR Congo offer street children skills and hope of a better future

Skill Development Programs for Street Children in Kinshasa

In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are providing skill development opportunities to street children, focusing on trades such as carpentry and baking.

Estimates suggest that several thousand street children, known locally as "shegues," reside in Kinshasa, a city with a population nearing 17 million. Many of these children are forced onto the streets due to extreme poverty or accusations of witchcraft by their families.

These children often survive through odd jobs and begging. The Work to Rehabilitate and Protect Street Children (ORPER) NGO has been active for over 11 years, conducting outreach programs to offer care and assistance to these vulnerable youths.

In collaboration with medical teams, outreach workers provide essential medical care, addressing injuries sustained from street life. Additionally, they educate children on the risks of violence, drug use, and health issues such as HIV transmission.

The Programme for Monitoring, Educating and Protecting Street Children (OSEPER) offers educational support, including reading and writing lessons, as well as vocational training in trades such as carpentry, sewing, and baking. These programs aim to help children achieve self-sufficiency and societal reintegration.

The primary goal of these initiatives is to enable street children to become independent and productive members of society. Through skill development and education, the programs strive to provide these children with viable career paths and a stable future.

NGOs express concern over potential impacts of global humanitarian funding cuts on their operations and continue to seek support for their efforts in improving the lives of Kinshasa's street children.

Based on reporting by Africanews.