GOVERNMENT PLANS CENTRE TO SUPPORT STREET CHILDREN
BY JORDON VELA
THE National Office for Child and Family Services (NOVFS) plans to establish a dedicated service centre to support street children and vulnerable families, following a 2024 survey that identified 235 children needing assistance.
Director Jerry Wap revealed the increase in street children during a seminar on eviction and displacement in cities hosted by the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) and the National Housing Corporation (NHC) on Oct. 19, 2026.
Mr. Wap said the office began surveying the impact of evictions and identifying vulnerable children in 2023-24. The 2024 survey identified 235 children, some of whom received help to return to school, along with food and clothing.
He said the number of street children had increased over the past two years, particularly in urban centres affected by settlement evictions.
“And just last week, Monday, we started a survey in all the urban centers, and the population, the street children population, have grown after evicting all the settlement and most of the settlement in the last five years. The street children population have grown in the last two years.” said Mr. Wap
Mr. Wap said the office currently provides social counselling and refers cases to nongovernmental organisations, limiting its ability to respond directly to children living on the streets and families seeking government assistance.
The office has sought National Executive Council approval to establish a dedicated service centre to handle cases requiring government intervention.
Mr. Wap said the office was working with customary landowners to identify land for the proposed centre, while the government had allocated some funding. The office aims to begin implementing the initiative this year.
BY JORDON VELA
THE National Office for Child and Family Services (NOVFS) plans to establish a dedicated service centre to support street children and vulnerable families, following a 2024 survey that identified 235 children needing assistance.
Director Jerry Wap revealed the increase in street children during a seminar on eviction and displacement in cities hosted by the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) and the National Housing Corporation (NHC) on Oct. 19, 2026.
Mr. Wap said the office began surveying the impact of evictions and identifying vulnerable children in 2023-24. The 2024 survey identified 235 children, some of whom received help to return to school, along with food and clothing.
He said the number of street children had increased over the past two years, particularly in urban centres affected by settlement evictions.
“And just last week, Monday, we started a survey in all the urban centers, and the population, the street children population, have grown after evicting all the settlement and most of the settlement in the last five years. The street children population have grown in the last two years.” said Mr. Wap
Mr. Wap said the office currently provides social counselling and refers cases to nongovernmental organisations, limiting its ability to respond directly to children living on the streets and families seeking government assistance.
The office has sought National Executive Council approval to establish a dedicated service centre to handle cases requiring government intervention.
Mr. Wap said the office was working with customary landowners to identify land for the proposed centre, while the government had allocated some funding. The office aims to begin implementing the initiative this year.
