By Clinton Masumba in Kitwe.
A Non Governmental Organisation Charity Centre for Child and Youth Development has proposed the need to introduce household empowerment programs to alleviate poverty levels among children.
Organisation Executive Director Alex Bwaluka has noted with great concern the impact of child poverty in most rural parts of Zambia.
Mr Bwaluka said child poverty is greatly affecting the next generation and there is need for government working closely with Civil Society Organisations to intervene and help improve the wellbeing of households in rural parts of Zambia.
He has stated that most children are unable to access health and education services due to the poverty levels being experienced in their respective homes.
Mr Bwaluka has further said sponsoring a child in school who is coming from a poverty stricken home is not producing results as most children decide to stay away from school activities hence hindering their progress in life.
“For instance, you cannot be paying school fees for a child who is coming from a poor family as most cases they may not even manage to get to school due to high poverty levels, so it is important that households are empowered first if the Zambia is to secure the future of the next generation” Mr Bwaluka said.
“As an organisation we identified a few individuals in various schools and we were paying school fees now we realised that the children we were paying school fees for, needs food but this was not sustainable so we have embarked on household empowerment programs aimed at education families on how to save and sustain their livelihoods”
He has expressed concern that the future is threatened with high poverty levels affecting mostly children, whose success is unpredictable.
“When there is poverty at household level even the growth of the child is compromised, poverty has a very big impact on the development of a child, access to health care and other services are issues that must be addressed. Child education sponsorship has failed to work and we have now adopted the household empowerment which is benefiting children” He added
He said children don’t just need books and school uniforms; they need food, education and health care. “Once families are empowered with financial management, you now reduce poverty at household and children will have a chance to attain other services.” Mr Bwaluka stated.
Mr Bwaluka has further commended government on the introduction of Social Cash Transfer and Village banking concepts under the Ministry of Community development which is helping improve the living standards of the people especially those in the rural communities.
He said government and other stakeholders need to do more to secure the future of Children.
Poverty is the most profound challenge that Zambia faces today. It is a social crisis with the majority of people denied a minimum decent living standard. The latest Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Monthly Food Basket Survey shows that it is becoming more and more difficult for the majority to meet basic needs, because food costs have been rising while wages remain static and too far below the food cost.
The Sustainable Development Goals underscore the global commitment of “leaving no one behind” in development. Considering young people’s participation is an integral part of implementation of Agenda 2030, UNFPA is fostering effective youth participation and inclusion to ensure young people play an important role in their development as well as that of their communities.
