“We pray for our fathers, pray for our mothers, wishing our families well, we sing songs for them...but not for the missing...; when you seek the redressing, counting your blessings, whiling your time, when you lay without sleeping, my heart is weeping because I’m keeping a place for all the lost children” - Michael Jackson
Perhaps the late king of pop may not have built a monument for the lost children but the above lyrics in his “the lost children” speaks in great magnitude the mind of one laden with worry and concern for all the lost children out there.
The lost children are those commonly addressed as ‘the motherless’, ‘the orphans’, ‘the rejected’, the kidnapped, and others whose original identity have been tampered with and replaced with one entirely different from their biological affinity due to circumstances beyond their control; those whose potentials are today buried as a result of being in captivity of abductors; those subdued to various dehumanizing treatments from their ‘new owners’, __the helpless if one may say.
Daily, the number of forgotten children in the society increases drastically. Some are being abandoned by unprepared mothers at gates of orphanages, some dropped into a Well of water, others are forcefully sent into early marriage, hawking, ‘servanthood’(house helps) and other dehumanizing act which reduces a child’s dignity to the minim. It is indeed sad that children are often the victims of the above misdeeds.
In today’s society, the less privileged are often dreaded as a scourge in their environment. Many a times, they are treated by the privileged with such disdain that makes them feel they are responsible for their situation. Such treatments include: the restriction of some of their rights like the right to associate, belong and contribute ideas in their immediate place of belonging. Many of them are often snubbed, ignored and avoided, perhaps to prevent a spread of their misfortune on others.
In very rare cases, a lost child is picked-up and adopted by a total stranger who then takes such child as his/hers. At other times, for the fear of being accused or implicated for rendering assistance to a strange child, few members of the public prefer to maintain a working relationship with such children whereby, the children can always count on them in times of need. Asides these, there is usually no portion in the land of the living for the lost children.
However, the existence of orphanages for the accommodation of ‘the lost children’ has become a saving grace to many. A lot of children have had their hopes revived due to the home-away-from-home treatment accorded them by the management of these homes, courtesy of the government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Thus, when the Ink Newspaper visited three homes across the senatorial district of the state last week, there were reasons for the inmates to pray, chatter, sing and appreciate God for the blessing of the very few members of the society who have chosen to identify with them thereby, giving them a sense of belonging.
In many orphanages of the world where ‘the lost children’ mingle with those of their kind who, by chance have now become their families, the challenge of maintaining and keeping them physically in-tune is enormous. The visit by The Ink team revealed that though, a home could decide on sheltering children, the task of clothing and feeding are far too enormous for a single shoulder to carry. Some homes are not safe from external intrusion or invasion from social miscreants or hoodlums, should a day come when the urge to do so may arise. Some places had food shortage especially for the infants; some had security challenges while some could no longer house them in flood-overtaken areas. Likewise, issues like bad roads, funds to support the children’s educational pursuit were common to almost all the places visited.
However, the children were obviously elated by the presence of the visitors and the subsequent presentation of food items and toiletries to them. The Ink did this as part of her social corporate responsibility to the society, and the in an attempt to bring succour and relief to the less privileged in the society.
This then places a clarion call to individuals and organizations of the society to always remember the orphans while counting their blessings. Indeed, no offer would be regarded as ‘too small’ so long as the desire and willingness to give abounds. The less privileged are eligible members of the society deserving equal rights and privileges enjoyed by others. We therefore owe them a right hand of fellowship no matter how small. They do not need to be kidnapped before we start showing concern and praying for them like the Chibok girls.
Individuals should generally adopt a nature that would enable them see the needy as people who should rather be cared for than ostracized. Little acts of love should be shown to them to give them that sense of belonging.
Until the welfare of the less privileged is viewed as a collective responsibility, the problems of scarcity, hardship, lack and other economic challenges will still be a phenomenon in the society. However, since the hand of the giver has always and will always be above that of the receiver, people who give do not lack even in very hard times.
On the other hand, those who have been in the habit of co-funding and supporting the homes, The INK inclusive, are by this piece, appreciated and lauded for their uncommon humanitarian gestures and also encouraged to keep up with their goodness. Such deeds are not only kinds that will never be erased from the golden book of humane deeds, but also, deeds that would pave ways for greater and bigger opportunities in life, reinforce their personal and close-knit security, ensure their continued progress and make ways for their deliverance in times of trouble.
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