‘Homeless kids are fast learners’

Lae News, Normal

HOMELESS children’s academic performance in primary and elementary schools in Lae city is improving, the Salvation Army says.
The church, through its street level ministry in 2007, had taken 20 orphans and homeless children and enrolled them at schools.
There are eight pupils now attending elementary classes, 10 in upper primary, while one will be
graduating at Busu Secondary today.
Another, 22-year-old Meroline Gedisa, who took up metal fabrication at Bulolo technical-vocational centre, will graduate at the end of this month.
Yet another, Nigel Yawi, is a teacher at Tent Siti Salvation Army Elementary School.
The street level ministry reaches out to the streets and conducts interviews with orphans and homeless children.
Coordinator Stanley Timai said the street kids were counselled before being registered into the programmes.
“We teach them mathematics, English and social studies.
“Into the social studies, we conduct further counselling to ensure they build more interest into becoming literate citizens in the future,” he said.
“Our focus is to ensure and promote equal education opportunity for the orphans and homeless children, particularly those who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.”