Street Children

A Beacon of Hope - Stepping Stones Nigeria's Partnership with the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network

Stepping Stones Nigeria works in partnership with an amazing Nigerian NGO - The Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) - to help meet the needs of some of the region's many street children. This small group of young volunteers came together in 2003 to shelter 4 of the victims of a spate of killings of people stigmatised as "witches" or "wizards". Today over 100 children regularly access the services at the CRARN emergency children's shelter. This shelter provides security, safety, healthcare, nutrition, counselling, education and skills training to each child. Over 95% of the children on the streets of Akwa Ibom State have been stigmatised as "witches" by pastors and abandoned to live on the streets by their parents. On the streets these children become vulnerable to rapists, traffickers and some have been known to become victims of ritualists who use their body parts for Juju. The deeply held traditional belief in "witches" and the large numbers of street children in the region makes the job that the CRARN volunteers are doing even more incredible. Despite lack of resources and frequent abuse from the public they have made a huge difference to the lives of these children. Since Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN began to work in partnership a great deal has been achieved. This includes:

Nigerian Government Funding

Akwa Ibom State Government and Eket Local Government have both donated significant amounts of funds for the pilot emergency shelter

Child Participation

Children who were previously on the streets helped to design and then build their own housing units, classrooms and toilets. A children's council has been set up at the camp so that the children can fully participate in all levels of project planning and implementation.

Child Health

All children accessing the services at the camp have been tested for HIV/AIDS. Serious medical cases such as severely broken bones, accute tuberculosis, severe malnutrition, malaria, typhoid etc have all been successfully treated

Nutrition

CRARN used to struggle to feed the children one meal-a-day. All children now receive at least two nutritious meals each day prepared by a cook employed by Stepping Stones Nigeria. Funding for meeting the children's food needs has come from Steppng Stones Nigeria's kind monthly donors and the Christadelphian Meal-a-Day fund.

Income Generation

CRARN has established successful rabbit, snail and poultry farms. 50 snails have become 4,000 and 3 rabbits have become 17 in the last six months alone! These are sold at the local market or eaten by the children to suppliment their diet. The poutry farm currently holds 50 layers. Our aim is to have 250 layers and 250 broilers in the near future. The eggs will provide a valuable source of protein for the children. Training has been provided to CRARN by the Growing Business Foundation and the University of Uyo Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team. Stepping Stones Nigeria is very grateful for their continued support.

Education

Vocational Skills

Many of the children at the camp are reaching an age where it is important to equip them with the skills needed to reintegrate themselves back into society. Children are currently taught farming, traditional building skills, carpentry, soap making and sewing skills. As the children get older CRARN and Stepping Stones Nigeria will work together to arrange apprenticeships withl local professionals for each child.

Stepping Stones Nigeria is a member of the