Me, a street child My psychological journey

Despite government’s efforts, homeless children, commonly referred to as ‘street Children continue to roam the streets of Yaounde as days go by. Major neighborhoods like Yaounde Central town, Carrefour Nlongkak, Odza, Avenue Kennedy, Marché Central and Mokolo remain breathing grounds for these children.

One of such street children is 14-years-old Roger. He has been living in street for the past one year, after a certain lady, whom he says hosted them in 2021 when they fled from the anglophone crisis asked them to go fend for themselves. By living is the steers he is exposed to.

He initially rented with senior boys, who molested him, deprived him of his food and collected the little money he made from pushing wheelbarrow, thus exposing him to hunger and depression.

The little boy, whom this reporter met at the Mfoundi market said “… so what I do now is that I go to any market on a daily basis, rent a wheelbarrow and push. I buy food and eat since I have no house to cook in. When night comes, I sleep in a certain incomplete building. They are certain days that I even return and meet people there, so I prefer to go sleep in front of any building with other children for safety.” By sleeping in the street he is exposed to diseases like respiratory diseases, skin diseases, stress, violence and other diseases.

The little boy who makes about 2000FCFA daily preferred not to disclose where he keeps his money. He owns very few clothes, which he washes and dries them by the Mfoundi stream. The water he uses washing his clothes is usually dirty and contaminated, as all sorts of refuse are dumped into into, consequently explaining why his was full of rashes. Roger also disclosed his plans of working harder so as to save money to get shelter. He does not welcome the idea of seeking shelter in an orphanage because he once visited one, but was not satisfied with the living conditions. The holder of  FSLC also expresses his strong desire of never returning to his native Chomba in the Northwest region, where his family and house was destroyed in the anglophone crisis. A good Samaritan then brought him to Yaoundé for safety.

Roger’s story is just one among the hundreds existing in Yaoundé.

Speaking on Cameroon’s state radio, CRTV in 2022 on the occasion of the 11th edition of the World Day for street children,

Cameroon’s  Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irene Nguene said the government was to house, feed and educate street children and urged them to leave the streets. She said at least 250 children were either reunited with their families or enrolled in schools within the past year.

Government through the ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS, in April 2023 Partnered with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, as well as other national and international bodies to ensure the reinsertion and socio economic inclusion of street children in Cameroon.

A total of 700 street children in some regions of the country were targeted within the framework of this project. This was on the occasion of the 12th edition of the World Day for street children.

Nyambi III Dikosso, Director of National Solidarity  and Social Development at MINAS on this occasion disclosed that MINAS through its pilot phase of the project was able to withdraw 162 children from the streets. 110 returned home and 40 were placed at the Betamba childhood centre in Ntui, Centre Region.

The government  is encouraging families and communities to assist them by providing shelter, accommodation and access to education for the street children.

Ingrid Kengne