Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Wilson
Published on 2024-02-26 09:14:46
Every day in Monrovia, Liberia, children as young as five years old can be seen on the streets, leading their disabled parents, who are often visually impaired, as they beg for alms to provide food for their families. These children, despite being burdened with the responsibility of being the breadwinners, have not had the chance to receive a formal education. Many of them expressed in interviews that they have no means of going to school because they are required to accompany their disabled parents or relatives on the streets to beg for food.
In the Redlight General Market, some children shared their desire for education but explained that they have no one to support them in pursuing it. The daily hustle of leading their disabled parents around the streets leaves them with no time to attend school. It is estimated that hundreds of children between the ages of five and fifteen are supporting the disabled community in Liberia by guiding visually impaired individuals or pushing wheelchairs to help them beg for food.
One such child, Medley Brown, a 10-year-old girl, shared her story of having to drop out of school to care for her blind mother after her uncle, who was previously helping, left to gamble. Medley expressed her desire to become a police officer but lamented the fact that she had to sacrifice her education to support her family. Similarly, Peace Gibson, a blind child, never had the opportunity to attend school due to his parents’ blindness and his sister’s tragic death on her way to try to listen in on lessons being taught at school.
These children, like many others in similar situations, are crying out for help. They long for the chance to receive an education and pursue their dreams, but are held back by the responsibilities placed upon them at a young age. They plead for government intervention to ensure that they are given the opportunity to go back to school and secure a brighter future for themselves.
In conclusion, the stories of children like Medley, Peace, and Alice highlight the urgent need for support for children who are forced to care for their disabled parents instead of attending school. These children deserve the chance to receive an education and fulfill their potential as future leaders of Liberia. It is essential for the government, as well as philanthropists and society as a whole, to step in and provide the necessary assistance to ensure that these children are not deprived of their right to education and a better future. Only through collective action and compassion can we break the cycle of poverty and disability that plagues these vulnerable children.
Read the original article on New Republic Liberia
