By Burnett Munthali
The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has assured Malawians that it is intensifying efforts to remove children from the streets through a range of child protection interventions aimed at providing them with safe family environments and proper care.
The assurance comes as the country continues to witness an increase in the number of street-connected children, raising concerns about their safety, welfare and access to essential services such as education, healthcare and protection.
Speaking on Monday during the opening of a five-day foster care training in Mponela, Dowa District, the ministry’s Director of Social Welfare, Enoch Bonongwe, said government remains committed to ensuring that vulnerable children are placed in supportive family settings where they can receive the care and guidance they deserve
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Bonongwe noted that despite the availability of foster parents who are willing and capable of caring for vulnerable children, many young people continue to live on the streets, exposing them to abuse, exploitation and other social risks.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the foster care system so that more children can be identified, assessed and placed in suitable homes as part of broader efforts to safeguard their rights and improve their well-being.
Bonongwe further said collaboration among government institutions, development partners and local communities is essential to addressing the growing challenge of street children and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.
SOS Children’s Villages Malawi Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Given Chichitike, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting government initiatives aimed at protecting children who are in need of parental care and guidance.
Chichitike said the organization will continue working closely with the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare by providing both technical expertise and financial support to strengthen child protection systems and expand access to foster care services.
He observed that sustainable partnerships between government and non-governmental organizations are critical to improving the lives of vulnerable children and reducing the number of those living on the streets.
Meanwhile, Mbelwa District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer Hellen Simwaka described the training as an important step toward strengthening the capacity of social welfare officers to respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable children.
Simwaka said the knowledge and skills acquired during the five-day training will enable participants to better identify children in need of alternative care, assess their circumstances and facilitate appropriate foster care placements.
The training is expected to enhance the country’s foster care programme by equipping frontline social welfare officers with practical tools to promote family-based care and improve child protection services across Malawi.
Government and its partners hope that strengthening foster care systems will contribute significantly to reducing the number of children living on the streets while ensuring that vulnerable children grow up in safe, stable and supportive family environments.
