As Covid-19 continues to devastate mankind forcing people to take safety precautions such as social distancing, wearing face masks, avoiding handshakes and using hand sanitizers regularly or staying home, street kids continue going about their lives as if there isn't imminent danger. This project seeks to rescue street kids from the streets of the city of Kitwe and 'house' them our in facility where they shall have chance to undergo vocational training in career paths of their choice.
There are more than 100,000 children living on the streets of Kitwe. There are 2 types of street kids: 1. Children on the street (These may have a home and even one or two surviving parents. Most likely their parents can't provide food for them and are left with no choice but flock to CBD every morning to ask for alms. 2. Children of the streets (Having lost both parents due to HIV/AIDS or ran away from relatives due to abuse, these children practically live on the streets to eke a living.
As opposed to the traditional curriculum that would confine street kids to classrooms for hours and end up making them sick with boredom, we intend to adhere to a curriculum focusing on vocational education. This differs from traditional education in that it focuses on building the specific skills of an individual for specific trades. It will engage individuals in the learning of practical skills for different occupational activities of their choice.
In the long run, the street kids would be better equipped to aspire for jobs in the formal sector or indeed initiate their own small business enterprises hence reducing levels of unemployment in the city. Apart from this, the spate of crime in the area would be reduced significantly whereas the spread of HIV/AIDS would be brought under control as they would be able to pass their leisure time productively instead of lurking in dark corners plotting mischief.
