The budget of 2011 includes money to establish three drop-in centres for street children in South Sudan and in the future every state will have its own place.
Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Agnes Kwaje Lasuba told Radio Easter that her ministry is concerned about street children and it will be building three centres for them in Torit, Malakal and Wau.She explained the centres are places where street children drop in for councelling and other activities.
Ms. Kwaje said the ministry will provide food and accommodation for the children till they are reunited with their families.
She added that her ministry is working in collaboration with the ministry of education to establish reformatory centres for those children who are lacking parental care and vocational skills.
Ms. Kwaje stressed that Wau has the highest number of street children – above 1,000 – followed by Eastern Equatoria.
She added that children took to the streets due to a combination of factors that includes war, high poverty, and lack of parental care.
The minister urged people to join hands for better social welfare in the Republic of South Sudan.