The rights of a child

The UN has a convention stating the rights of the child.   Many countries have signed it, or various clauses in it.

Rights of the child, INCLUDING street-living children, according to the UN, includes things like a right to health care, a right to education, a right to fair treatment, and a right to be heard.

Street children in many if not most third world countries are exposed to exploitation, violence, prostitution, drugs, dirt and diseases, and hunger.

I have no wish to be controversial, or to name countries where these rights do not exist, or to name countries which haven't signed the convention.   

But I think in our work in Kisumu, we need, even just for a month, to keep these 'rights' foremost in our minds when talking to children and teenagers, and try to offer a little help in the way of education, very basic health care or advice, and above all, to listen to what they have to say, just as we would with our own children or grandchildren ...   

This is the way for us to learn about their lives, and then let their lives change our lives ...