Street Children

Today, we got invited to participate in an English Club Session by PEC ( Parable English Club) at Bach Khoa University.

The discussion carried out was on the nature of street children, where they came from, who are they, and what can be done to help them.

A video was shown on the nature of these street children in Vietnam. They have a wide variety of street jobs, including shoe-shinning and selling of foodstuff. Most of which, often are told by their family members to go around and help to sell things or beg for money. Some are accompanied by their brothers or sisters who can play musical instruments while they ask for money.

Through this discussion, I got to know first hand the plight of these children, and what they have to go through due to the advent of poverty to some of these Vietnamese, most often they were abandoned by their families due to financial difficulties or adopted by people wanting to use them to make money. A play was later acted out, and it explained about a street child who was bullied, but later on found his parents who abandoned him and regretted her decision to abandon him many years ago. This story showcases how these street children live, and what they have to go through each day. Also showing the growing divide of rich and poor in Vietnamese society.

I couldn't help but feel pitiful for the plight of these children. And I feel that the government can do much more to help these children. This meeting was good in that it showed awareness of what was happening so that people could be more mindful and maybe provide some help for these children.

Cheers. daniel

Today discussion is on street children in Vietnam.

It is very hard not spot them on the streets. In fact, they might just come up to you begging for a hand out. Even on separate occasions when we went out with the club, we came across them roaming the streets of Hanoi. Probably some Vietnamese might not feel very comfortable talking about them and discussing about them. But there is no reason to ignore their presence, caused I feel that they are innocent victims of poverty. So I must really congratulate the parable English club for choosing this topic and showing that they actually care.

It is true that the society is still developing in Vietnam, and that most people only have enough for themselves. Therefore, I think that this is an important reason for why Vietnamese tend to look away from them. I remembered many times when I am eating in one of the stalls along the streets. Halfway through the meal, there will be one of the street kid wearing dirty and torn clothes asking for hand outs. Most of the time, it seems like the Vietnamese are used to it and continue with their meals. But more often than not, there will be a hush silence until some one gave 20cents or when the kid gave up and tried his luck somewhere else.

Every time, I found it hard to continue eating. I bought a few of them meals before, but how many meals can I buy for them? They are still so young and I really wish someone can do something more for them. I hope that they can have education, but sometimes giving them education is not enough. The economy might not have a space for them as there are just too many young people looking for a job now.

This is really a big social issue in Vietnam. Apart from the fact that education is not compulsory, thus parents can send their children to work for money and to help support the family; there are also many of them who are homeless or abandoned. I am glad that more of us can get to know about their plight. But maybe actions can be taken to. I have volunteered for a few times in one of a charity organization in Vietnam for street children and I have seen the positive results. I hope that there will be more of these organizations, not just from outside help, but also from the government, to allow more help to come in.

shi lei : )