Children's Day In Nigeria: Worth Celebrating Despite Social Problems Children Face
Children's Day is here and by now many schools, NGOs and other organizations will be in the mood of celebration. Amusement parks, leisure sites and other places like these already have special activities for the children to participate in and enjoy themselves. The giving of hot, cooked meals to children on the streets or in need is already taking place.
May 27th in Nigeria is a big day for children all over the country; but the children that are celebrating and having fun are those in private schools or those who are lucky to have an NGO organise something for them.
However, a large population of children in this country will continue their days like nothing is going on. These children live in the rural areas or in the slums of the cities. For them, Children's Day is just another day in the year when they'll have to work hard to support their families and make ends meet. If they're privileged to be in school, once classes are over, they head to the streets or surrounding neighborhoods to hawk different things: plantain, pure water (sachet water), fried fish or some other food that people will need on a daily basis. They don't have a childhood to call theirs, no pass times, just hard work so they can feed themselves and their families. Maybe they'll catch fun in between meeting customers or while they rest in a shady spot from the scorching heat of the sun.
This is the life they've been born into: they didn't choose it. While they struggle to support themselves and their families, they become vulnerable to the dangers of the society: child molestation, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, exposure to gangs, drugs and violence, ritualistic violence, etc. Daily, children go missing or die due to the dangers mentioned above or other dangers just like them. Their futures cut short because of someone's greed or sadistic nature. Or simply because they're already living the life of adults when they shouldn't be.
Yet, we celebrate these children and truly they need to be celebrated. They are beautiful, brilliant and brave. Most of them have grown resilient and have learnt to survive each day. And in a world where more and more vile things happen, these children grow braver and stronger mentally and emotionally. Some may not live through it, but others will. Through it all, you will still find these children smiling through the challenges they face, innovatively looking for ways to enjoy themselves.
So, on this day, 27th of May 2019, we will celebrate the children of Nigeria with wonder and respect because some of them face worse situations than our generation did when we were their age and have survived. We will celebrate them for their bravery, brilliance, relience and their ability to adapt.
God bless the children of Nigeria.
Evangeline Akinola
May 27th in Nigeria is a big day for children all over the country; but the children that are celebrating and having fun are those in private schools or those who are lucky to have an NGO organise something for them.
However, a large population of children in this country will continue their days like nothing is going on. These children live in the rural areas or in the slums of the cities. For them, Children's Day is just another day in the year when they'll have to work hard to support their families and make ends meet. If they're privileged to be in school, once classes are over, they head to the streets or surrounding neighborhoods to hawk different things: plantain, pure water (sachet water), fried fish or some other food that people will need on a daily basis. They don't have a childhood to call theirs, no pass times, just hard work so they can feed themselves and their families. Maybe they'll catch fun in between meeting customers or while they rest in a shady spot from the scorching heat of the sun.
This is the life they've been born into: they didn't choose it. While they struggle to support themselves and their families, they become vulnerable to the dangers of the society: child molestation, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, exposure to gangs, drugs and violence, ritualistic violence, etc. Daily, children go missing or die due to the dangers mentioned above or other dangers just like them. Their futures cut short because of someone's greed or sadistic nature. Or simply because they're already living the life of adults when they shouldn't be.
So, on this day, 27th of May 2019, we will celebrate the children of Nigeria with wonder and respect because some of them face worse situations than our generation did when we were their age and have survived. We will celebrate them for their bravery, brilliance, relience and their ability to adapt.
God bless the children of Nigeria.
Evangeline Akinola
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