Slow Start

We have all these ideas for the project but as of now we're on hold because we haven't heard back from Fountain of Hope. We really want to get them involved and get the kids involved because there's only so much we can say about them or even know about them, it's best for people to get to know these kids for who they really are. So right now we're waiting and hopefully we're going to hear from them soon. If we don't hear from them by the end of next week I think we're going to start the project anyways from what we remember and the pictures we have and our memories of them, it's not ideal but it's what we have and we're going to have to make the best of it.

I'm also interning for Africa Faith and Justice Mission this semester and I've decided to do my research there on street children to raise awareness about the real situation. I feel like people know there are a lot of AIDS orphans in Africa but I don't think they know how bad the problem truly is or the lengths these kids go through to survive.

I know when we were in Zambia one evening we were walking back to our hostel with dinner for the whole group because everyone was sick of cooking and just wanted something simple. So we were walking back and this group of kids started following us begging. We told them no, which was really hard, and told them to go to Fountain of Hope for food and care and our leader gave them directions. Then they got worse so we said "Choka," which means go away in Nyanja. They followed us all the way to the street where our hostel was and then our leader, who had lived in Zambia for 3 years, told them that they had no respect which is a huge deal because respect is extremely important to them. The kids stopped and yelled things at us, but they weren't following us more. All of a sudden I felt something hit the back of my leg and looked back and the kids were throwing rocks at us. Then one of them took out a glass Coke bottle and sniffed it and put it into his pocket. Our leader told us they were high and he was sniffing glue because then they don't feel cold or hunger. But this wasn't just a chance encounter with some kids who were getting high, they felt like they needed this to live and get through the night.

This is why I want to do my project on street children and raise awareness about it to the members of AFJN. They're kids, they deserve a childhood and a place to eat and sleep and a family and school, they shouldn't be forced to sniff glue or sewage, if they can't get the glue, to make it through the night. And there are millions of them in Zambia alone. There are organizations that are trying to help, but I think people only ever hear about AIDS and AIDS orphans in orphanages. In reality there aren't that many orphanages and there are too many kids, in the US people would be appalled, but in Africa it is the reality every day. So why don't those kids deserve to be watched over too? Why does our prevention of street children stop at the US borders?
-Katie