One Step Foundation launches fundraising campaign to help street-connected children

Malawi: One Step Foundation (ONESFO), a Malawian non-governmental organisation concerned with the welfare of street-connected children, has appealed to well-wishers to assist street-connected children who have been withdrawn from secondary schools due to non-payment of fees.

Approximately 212 students from public, private, and mission secondary schools have been sent back on multiple occasions because the organisation that volunteers to support them does not have enough funds.

In an interview, Moses Mwalabu, the organization's Executive Director, stated that he intends to stand at Lilongwe's City Centre roundabout on Wednesday, July 27th, to solicit support from well-wishers and other stakeholders.

"We tried everything by meeting with various stakeholders, including faith organisations, to help these brilliant children, but we failed miserably. Some principals are no longer willing to listen to our lies about looking for school fees for the previous two terms," Mwalabu, visibly frustrated, stated.

According to Mwalabu, who was a street-connected child for over ten years, if these children are left unattended, they may return to the streets and cause havoc due to their frustrations at not finishing their studies.

Smoke Mtengang'ombe, one of the children who has been fully withdrawn from street life and has been selected to pursue further studies at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) after scoring twelve points at MSCE level, stated that street life is so dangerous to them as young people but only circumstances force them to be in the streets, indicating the need for more well-wishers to assist in educating those who have already been withdrawn so that they may return to the streets.

A letter signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Vitto Mulula from Lilongwe City Council indicated the council's approval for Mwalabu to hold the alleged fundraising activity.

The organisation, which was founded in 2022, is currently concerned with the welfare of approximately 1008 street-connected children in secondary schools.