–says publication of children’s plight, raising donations inappropriate

IN the light of a social media post of six children left abandoned by their parents in a house made of zinc and newspaper, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) has warned that persons be sensitive to protecting the rights of children.
Photographs of the six children and information of their plight surfaced on social media under Guyanese Ting’zz on Wednesday, attracting the attention of the media, several local and overseas-based organisations and concerned citizens.

One of the messages of Guyanese Ting’zz noted: “These children, ages 8 months – 14 years live in a 12-by-12 shack that leaks all over and sleep on the ground made of mud and cow dung. They have nothing to eat or drink. Both parents are alcoholics.
“The kids don’t have birth certificates, nor do they attend school and the 14- year- old ran away from home. Someone visited the house and the 10-year-old boy was putting the baby to sleep with one hand and the other hand with a bowl catching rain drops,” the message further stated.

The message was accompanied by photographs of the children — ages six months to 14 years old – who were removed from the custody of their alcoholic parents with whom they shared the small shabby shack.
The woman, in whose care the children have been placed, said the posts on social media have resulted in positive responses from several individuals and organisations and assistance is streaming in for the family.
“People bringing clothing and foodstuff,” she told the Guyana Chronicle, and said individuals and organisations from as far as Canada and the U.S. have pledged their support in various ways.

Someone in the USA has already created an account and has raised US$5,500 for the children.
An overseas organisation has also indicated its willingness to buy a houselot and build a house for the family.
“Somebody said if I can get a land for them they are willing to build a house. We will counsel them. My husband is a doctor, a mental health therapist,” the woman said.
She has since made contact with the Ministry of Communities, but was told that lands are not being distributed.

DON’T WANT MONEY
“A lot of people now believe and they keep calling me. And they make that commitment to help to maintain them. I tell them I don’t want money, let them bring stuff,” the woman said.
Meanwhile, she said the children seem happy, but are still getting accustomed to living at her home. They also have new friends.
“They are well-behaved children,” she said, and added that she and husband have started teaching and preparing them for the new school term.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the aunt of the children’s mother, who lives on the West Demerara, has agreed to provide housing for the woman and the three younger children, but they will still be under her care, since she has signed as their foster parent for six months.
The family is trying to locate the eldest child, a 14-year-old, who ran away from home.

INAPPROPRIATE
CPA Director Ann Greene has however expressed concern that the foster family is seeking donations for the children outside of the CPA, in whose care they actually are, without consulting the agency.
Green said the CPA had asked the family to remove posts which expose the children and especially those with their photographs, since it is a violation of the children’s rights to protection.

According to the UNICEF convention on the Rights of the Child, under the Right to Protection section – Articles 39 (Rehabilitation of child victims) and 36 (other forms of exploitation) – “Children who have been neglected, abused or exploited should receive special help to physically and psychologically recover and reintegrate into society. Particular attention should be paid to restoring the health, self-respect and dignity of the child… Children should be protected from any activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development.”

Green said though the couple may be unaware of implications of doing such, the agency will meet them on Friday to further discuss the issue and if they refuse to cooperate, then the children will be removed from their care.
“We have given her a caregivers agreement… we are on her [to remove the posts], because if she doesn’t agree to that we are going to remove the children and put them somewhere else,” she stated.

According to Greene, in posting pictures and seeking help, “You expose the children… schoolchildren can trouble the children and say ‘you were the one living in that paper house’.”
She explained too that to solicit help for children in the care of the CPA can be deemed as exploitative and against the law.
“If they wanted to help, they’ve got to come through us. We don’t want anybody to use [the situation] to go about looking for anybody’s help for [the children]. They can’t contact her.

The children are now in Child Protection Care and she can’t put out any article,” Greene said.
She said the media must also be responsible in reporting such stories, since some parents may not understand how they have erred until they are informed. Such parents are victims also and need help.
“Childcare is looking after the best interest of these children and also to see how best we can help to look after the parents,” she said.