Mayor Chalamanda impressed with Samaritan Trust
Mayor of Blantyre City, Councillor Noel Chalamanda has hinted that his office is committed to making the commercial capital a better place to live for everyone including street children.
Chalamanda was speaking at Samaritan Trust where the non- governmental organization which aims at alleviating the plight of street children by ensuring their access to education, vocation skills training and social protection, had an open day.
The city father said that it is the responsibility of the council to make sure there are no street children in the city and that through trustees like the Samaritan Trust, there is hope that the problem of the increase in number of street children will be curbed.
Said Chalamanda: “What we will be doing in a short while is to go out there using people that have expertise like the Samaritan Trust to see what we can do with the children, either to bring them here or to other such institutions. Even though it might not be solved in a short while but we must take deliberate steps towards alleviating the problem of street children in the city and the country as a whole.”
The mayor asked for collaboration from residents in addressing the problem of street children and that the corporate world open up opportunities for street children who have shown dedication in changing their lives by joining The Samaritan Trust.
“It is in this vein that I call upon you, to collaborate and put an effort in addressing the problem of street children. As we have observed, there is a lot of potential among these children. Future carpenters, builders, tailors, technicians. Let’s open up opportunities for these children and utilize their skills for the betterment of our City,” he said.
The mayor said he was pleaded with the children to take the opportunity of being part of the Samaritan Trust seriously by learning on how they can become good citizens.
Mike Bamford, Samaritan Trust Chairman, said it is sad to see some street children who were once part of the organisation back in the streets when their friends are craving for an opportunity like that.
Said Bamford; “Most of the times children run away from this place for their own reasons but I think because they are used to the life in the streets they find it had to adapt to a new environment which is why we now have competent staff which makes sure that when the children are here they are settled and are feeling at home.”
Margaret Nkhwehna, Samaritan Trust Executive Director said the organization has managed to reach over 5000 street children since it was founded in 1993 with the help of social workers and various organizations such as Tilitonse Fund, Tudor Trust, David James Foundation, Sarah Adams Foundation and Aqua Viveda.
Currently the organization with 17 staff members is taking care of 77 children who amongst them 24 are girls.
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Good effort our Mayor. But you also have a street child in your office who is operating from a visitors chair. Don’t you think that requires your immediate intervention? Are you waiting for the Samaritan Trust to do that for you?
May I request the mayor to look into the maintainance of some roads and Manase Sewerage system which has a bleeding place for mosquitoes.
I am very much impressed with how Mayor Chalamanda is working in the city of Blantyre. Keep it up
A mayor ofoila. malo moti mukodze town yathu muli busy ndi zoputsa. konzani town n’ put some streets lights. alli kuti magetsi a mitseu? what the fuck ar u doing in ur office? mwangotionongera town yokongola ija.