DEKAP seeks support for deprived children

A newly established organization dedicated to providing early childhood education to less fortunate kids, Destine Kids Assistance Program or DEKAP, is calling on the Government of Liberia to assist less fortunate children in the country. DEKAP, which was established in March 2012, is currently providing free education to unprivileged kids in several communities in Monrovia.

Speaking to reporters in Paynesville over the weekend, the Executive Director of DEKAP, Mrs. Helena Wenneh, said the organization is both national and community based with the primary aim to solicit educational opportunities for children in difficult circumstances.

Madam Wenneh said the organization serves as an intervention tool in responding to the plight of children, specifically in the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex community where underprivileged kids are seen during school hours roaming the streets in filthy clothes, bare footed and hungry.

“It all started as a self-initiative that provided sponsorship for 10 kids in community schools and empowerment package for their parents as well as minimum lunch at our home for these kids”, she said.

According to her, Destine Kids Assistance Program also seeks education attainment for children living in difficult circumstances, reduce illiteracy and contain poverty, saying, “Because our programs are geared towards providing hope to the hopeless and future to less privileged children in various communities of Liberia.”

She said the procedure include engaging parents to make them to understand “we are going to help in sending their children to school because we saw the need for them to be educated [like] their friends in the same community.”

Madam Wenneh said the desire to helping others is not that you have much but to make the less fortunate parents feel that people are concerned about them, adding, “though we complain about things being hard but we must all help our brothers and sisters who are in need.”

She said it’s painful to see the young generation, including future leaders roam about without doing anything to improve their lives with some of them breaking rocks, washing other people clothes just to have a living.

“And we are saying that if we must call young people future leaders then there should be a need to support them in their academic activities; we want every peaceful Liberian to give to less fortunate children, because government alone cannot do everything for its citizens. We ourselves must stand on our feet in making sure that the less fortunate children are well supported”, Madam Wenneh stressed.