Wau’s street children become community helpers
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More than 70 street children in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan, are now volunteering to repair roads and clean the Jou Market after previously being known for crime and insecurity.
The children are filling potholes and leveling surfaces to improve access for traders and customers, guided by Daniel Makol John, known as Long Body. Long Body began the initiative to give the children productive activities and believes they possess intelligence and capability, but lack opportunity.
The children expressed gratitude for Long Body’s mentorship and requested support from the government and aid organizations. Justin Joseph Pio, a director at the Wau Municipal Council, praised the change, noting the children now help maintain security at the market and identify thieves. Makol and Pio both called for the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare to create programs to rehabilitate, educate, and reintegrate vulnerable children into their communities.
Last month, the children publicly stated their desire to leave street life and return to school with support, and they recently launched a market-wide sanitation and road repair campaign.
