Police and local authorities in Rubavu District have started an initiative to end concerns of street children in Gisenyi town.
Security organs and local leaders took 56 children and young adults off the streets of Gisenyi town, an effort also aimed at preventing their acts of lawlessness.
“This is a deliberate effort to get children and the young people from streets to educate them on the best alternatives to a better future, including education and to form or join cooperatives to be productive,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
“When we get these young people, we talk to them to understand what influences them to go on streets, meet their parents to emphasize the importance of parental care, to send their children to school and to guide them accordingly,” he added.
According to the spokesperson, majority of the street children come from the sectors that neighbors Gisenyi town, including Rubavu, Nyamyumba and Rugerero.
“Some of them were as young as 8 years and the eldest was 36. Clearly, for an 8-year to be on the street, there is relatively lack of parental responsibility, and these children will likely grow up with negative thoughts engaging in unlawful acts,” said SP Karekezi.
He outlined pick pocketing, snatching valuables from people, theft of clothes spread out for sun-drying, begging, and being used by drug dealers and smugglers, among others, as some of the criminal acts these young people engage in on streets.
Others engage in hectic economic acts like carrying goods.
“Some of them are young to engage in hectic activities, and this amounts to child labour. People should, therefore, be mindful of the age when employing casual workers to avoid committing crimes.”
He further urged grassroots leaders to closely follow up and work with the identified families to ensure that children continue to be guided.(End).