Every Child Ministries Helping --
Street Children in Africa
Sleeping -- and Dying -- on the Streets
"These children sleep on the street even when it rains," ECM's Director of Ministries to Street Children in Ghana, explained. "After a heavy rain, gutters overflow," he said. "Sometimes street children drown in the filthy sewage water."
Street Children--Rejected from Childhood on
| How dangerous is the situation many of these little street children face virtually alone in such a hostile world! Thank God that Christians care! |
Children end up on the streets for many reasons. Some run away from abusive situations. Some street children are orphans of war, tribal fighting, and AIDS. Some were born on the streets to homeless single mothers. Some street kids are teenagers with various disabilities. When a family has a child with a disability, they may feel ashamed, so they hide the child during his early years, 
not allowing him outside where others might see him. If a handicapped child or adult tries to go to church, he is often met at the door and told he is not welcome. So he grows up hidden away, untaught, unvalued, unloved even within his own home. Often in cases of remarriage after death or divorce, the children of the first marriage are not welcomed and are sometimes abused and insulted by the new partner.
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Street boy in Ghana
He "lives" in a dangerous place--the Agbogbloshie Market, known to be a major center of child trafficking. |
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Lonely street boy in DR Congo |
Out to the Streets
When such a child becomes a teen, he is often thrown out to fend for himself, and ends up sleeping on the city streets. He may find partial shelter after hours under a store awning or under a makeshift booth in one of the filthy outdoor markets.
Life as a Street Child
There he might find work enough to feed himself on "good" days by selling bags or carrying boxes to cars for shoppers, begging, or maybe stealing. Children who are able to walk spend long, hot days carting cardboard displays of goods for sale between cars at intersections. They make enough to eat most days. Street children never make enough to rent a room or visit the doctor.
They are almost never welcome in society. For the most part, these young people spend their whole lives knowing nothing but rejection. They are also objects of rape and sexual attack. People know that street children will not and cannot bring charges against them. So they are often used and abused, but seldom loved or valued.
Generation after Generation--The Misery
of Street Children Goes On and On
Girls on the street are easy prey to any guy who offers them a dollar or a good meal. They usually end up turning to prostitution, frequently end up contracting AIDS, give birth to children who have no home and no responsible father in their lives and who are forced to wander the streets with their mothers. Street girls feel trapped and worthless. Some street children are third and fourth generation on the streets! So, generation after generation, the misery just goes on and on.
Why Every Child Ministries is Helping Street Children
Christians have a powerful message for street children. They may be despised and rejected by the world, but they are deeply loved by God. Every Child Ministries' street workers are showing them God's love by showing them that we love them, too. Since early in 2000 ECM has been ministering to children on the streets of Accra where they live. It is evident to all that the children are thrilled to have their very own teacher. It gives them a feeling of identity, importance, and belonging. Sister Felicia, ECM's Street Director in turn, offers wise Biblical counsel and teaching, coupled with personal caring that touches the most hardened hearts.
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Above: Mama Lorella, International Co-Director of Every Child Ministries, shares a loving moment with some of the street children ECM serves in Ghana, West Africa. Right: Street children get excited about the Bible lesson and the personal attention of the ECM staff. One of ECM's goals? Show the love of Jesus to street children !
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The children were hesitant at first. After all, they'd been hurt by those who were supposed to be closest to them, and had been subjected to a long chain of abuse. But when ECM workers kept showing up week after week, when they were willing to touch the children and show love by helping them with real needs, when they spent time talking with the children and understanding their lives, well, it didn't take long for them to begin to respond. Now many of the children have received Jesus and are seeking to live for Him. Of course, they've picked up many destructive habits and attitudes on the streets, but they've made a start. Now, there is HOPE for them, and they know it.
How
Every Child Ministries is Helping Street Children
ECM's Fellowships for Street Children meet on Sunday afternoons. Most street children are illiterate, but they cling eagerly to the reading and teaching of the Word. And do they sing with enthusiasm!
For many months, the children were cautious, holding street workers at a distance. But gradually they warmed to expressions of caring. Now we are seeing many of them respond to the Gospel. Of course, they come with no spiritual training, no parental guidance, and many sinful and hurtful habits picked up on the streets. They need more than an average amount of prayer, perseverance, teaching and love. Every Child Ministries is committed to helping street children become fruitful disciples of Jesus, no matter how hard it may be or how long it may take.
To read more on street children in Africa, click here.
To learn how you can enable a street child to get education or vocational training through child sponsorship, click here.
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