Paneldebat: The plight of children in Africa – what works? (København)

How versed are you with the realities of vulnerable children in Africa?

What are the challenges that hinder organizations to successfully help vulnerable children and enable these individuals achieve their potential in adulthood?

What are the best practices that organizations, human rights activists, cooperates, and scholars have used to help curbing the growing number of street children in African countries?

In many developing countries the number of street children are growing due to rapid unplanned urbanization and other factors. These homeless children lack basic needs and are highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and the result leads to few reaching adulthood. Some develop deep-rooted social-emotional traumas making it hard for them to integrate back into a normal life. Different organizations specialize in helping and rehabilitating these children to integrate them back to the society. However, the same organizations face a host of challenges in the rehabilitation and integration process resulting in some children escaping and returning to the streets. Furthermore, there are rejection and stereotype judgement in the community towards the children and the organizations.

How can these challenges be resolved? And how can the plight of children in Africa be upheld?

This is an invitation to an afternoon of stories and findings from the field, inspirations, discussions and debates about vulnerable children in Africa and the practical working solutions.

We take inspiration from;

Joseph Njoroge: Former street child himself as well as founder and director of Global Hope Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Kenya

Reagan Oduor: Artist and the founder of M-Tafsiri Africa in Kenya helping to mentor vulnerable and street children through the use of music for their social-emotional growth.

Camilla Legendre: Daily Manager of 100% FOR BØRNENE

The afternoon is structured to start with an information session where an 8 min short film from Global Hope directed by the Danish filmmaker Amalie Malmgren Asmild will be screened and selected speakers will tell the story of how they work with street children and vulnerable children in Africa.

The second session will then lead into a discussion and debate session on what we see as working well, and what works as detrimental to this process.

The event is relevant to all stakeholders of development – no matter your angle. Policy makers, academics and researchers will gain from knowing the realities of vulnerable children in Africa experienced from the ground and get an opportunity to delve into specific details during the discussions. The general public will gain first hand updates on street children and their rehabilitation process in Africa, and what could be relevant for a more empowering future.

Signup information

Write to: [email protected]
Or via https://crossingborders.wildapricot.org/event-3377463 Sign up is possible until 12:00 o’clock on 6th June