Naturally, children depend on their parents until they are mature enough to be on their own. This dependence leads to the expectation of equal responsibility of parental care from both parents (Children Act2022). If both parents remain committed to nurturing care of their children,then there is hope for good outcomes in the future. Hence, the family continuously engages in activities that are aligned to the desired expectations.
However, cases of abandoned children are reported every day. What could this mean? One of the reasons could be the lack of collective responsibility in communities. The gap in family support causes parents to be overwhelmed by the responsibility of nurturing their children. Apart from physical abandonment, the children may be exposed to other forms of abandonment that includes psychological, emotional and spiritual. Think of living with your child yet they have a feeling that no one cares about them. This is the worst scenario for any child. What can fill this gap?
CALISCO believes in the teaching of Scripture that gives hope to children stating, “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). This is an assurance of God’s faithfulness towards his creation. It is also a reminder that every child has a right to human dignity. Thus, God’s intervention can be experienced through communities involved in accompanying and supporting parents in their role of nurturing care. The Swahili saying is right “mtoto umleavyo ndivyo akuavyo” (the way a child is nurtured determines the future of the child). We have the opportunity to avoid challenges in the lives of children by up scaling how we nurture them.