MAJORITY OF STREET CHILDREN ON KAMPALA STREETS ARE MALES : IS IT A MALE CRISIS?

 On the 16th of May 2024 I attended the celebration of the Day of the African Child that was organized by Golden Africa Foundation at Makerere University Business School Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center. The messages were tailored on the state of the male gender. It got me asking , that as males are we are at a crisis? The first signal was the low attendance of male youths at the event. The various speakers also pointed out how the male youths are neglecting their critical roles in society. Is it any wonder that most crimes implicate the male species? 

Walk across town and you will see most idle youths are males. Most street children are males. In the grand scheme of things what does this signal? The male species is the foundation of a family and a nation and in case they are in a crisis ,what does it imply? I have made an observation that most vibrant investment groups among the youths are mostly composed of girls or ladies who embrace the efforts and the males are busy elsewhere(could it be sports or ?).  Same thing with places of worship yet they play a critical role in social transformation. 

Some of the male youths when invited for financial literacy trainings will not attend citing transport as a hinderance. Unfortunately these same youths will be found struggling with debts from loan sharks.

The above pointers are not meant to castigate the male species which Iam part of. However they are meant to enable us as men to reflect on the some of the statistics and what they mean in the grand scheme of life.

HOW TO EMPOWER YOUNG MALES 

1.It begins with God. No one can discover their potential without consulting their creator.

2.Inculcate self discipline. Charity begins at home. Parents should inculcate discipline among the youths

3.Mentorship of the youths so that they can become agents of positive change.

4.Formation of development groups in communities to foster innovation and cooperation among the youths

5. Skilling the youths so that they can create their own enterprises

6. Conducting financial literacy trainings for youths.


Why are most street children males and what does it point to? This is the essence of this article.


Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach

+256752615916

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