What Can This Family Do
02 Sunday January 2022Good day fellow READCASH
There's this neighbour of mine, a family with 6 kids (3 boys and 3 girls) and the couple, totalling eight. They lived in an uncompleted building (they couldn't afford getting a single room) though with the permission of the owner. I've known this family almost a decade. The children ain't going to school. Not even a public school. The children look so pale, malnourished and unkept. The husband is a bricklayer who hardly get job. Most of the job he had gotten in his lifetime was just a join man job. The wife goes to different places to wash clothes and get paid which isn't constant.
Some of these children are becoming nuisance in the neighbourhood. They walk helmlessly in the street looking for what to eat. People took advantage of their predicament. Sending them errand at will, while their mates are in school.
Their mother and father had been insulted severely for stopping them from turning their children to their messenger. These children doesn't listen to their parents to stop walking helmlessly, parabulating the street and being sent on an errand by anybody.
They claimed their parents doesn't give them food to eat and they had to help people go on errand just to get something to eat. Even the church ain't helping. She had stopped attending her church. According to her, they mocked and make jest of her right in her presence. Why? Because of her condition, she wasn't contributing to the church.
These children had become a street beggars. Infact, the first son (13 years old) was arrested last week for stealing a mobile phone. He confessed, claiming hunger led him to it. My dad had to plead on his behalf and he was released the following day having seen the phone
I'm from a humble background. There's little to nothing i could do to help this family. I teach in a secondary school with just 33k take home as a corper. I do talked to these children, tutor them, admonished and give them the little from me. My mother being a friend to their mother also help in giving foodstuffs (though occasionally).
This family had been an eye sore to the public that i had to forget my own problem sometimes. According to the man, he claimed his wife had never disrespected him nor cheated on him for once. She was a good woman to him and his children. She was just unfortunate
This woman came to meet my mum yesterday, crying bitterly, hitting herself on the ground. She claimed her family had been for days without food (eating only unripe pawpaw) This was someone who had ulcer as a result of starvation.
She cried prufesly, lamenting seriously, claiming she'd have to abandon her children and run away. Her tears moved me and i got teary. My mum scolded her, letting her know the implications. Also, that should be the last thing to ever do. Not that she herself (my mum) was enjoying in her matrimonial home. However, running away, abandoning her children is a pure suicide mission that she'd regret for the rest of her life
My worry was that, these children needed to go back to school. These children are even brilliant seriously. The first 2 boys are done with primary school, while the 3rd child a girl, supposed to be in basic 6, sitting for her common entrance exam.
Is there any Agency/NGO that can help these children back to school? not minding public school? These children are more likely to end up badly if they keep roaming the streets while their mates are in school. They'd easily get exposed to all sorts of bad things including the girls amongst them. Sadly, the last 3 children hadn't been to school before. Yet, the last child is 4 years old.
Life was completely unfair to this family. They lacked the basic necessities of life. Moreso, these children doesn't deserve all these, as they are way too young for this. In a saner climes, i doubt if these children would be abandoned. Where can they go to? Who should they meet? These children mustn't end up on the street
Looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks!
Thanks for Reading....and happy Sunday ❣️
