ElevenTen is a group that is comprised of 6 STEM 1110 students with different skills, personalities, and aspirations but they have one goal; to address the issue about street children with their advocacy “homeless not hopless – a silver lining amidst poverty.”
Francis, 17, says that he chose this advocacy because he knows what they feel. They should be in school instead of being on the streets. They should have someone that will guide them and show them what life is. They shouldn’t be suffering because they’re just children. They are vulnerable and soft and they do not know much yet. “Someone has to do something and that someone is us. When we encounter them, we should give them something to eat or money to buy food even just a little. We must talk to them and listen to what their story because maybe we can help. Children are beautiful and we should guide them correctly because they will be the future of this world.”
Arjay, 17, says that he chose this advocacy because he believes that homelessness and street life have extremely detrimental effects on children. Children are the hopes of our future. Instead of living and being on the streets, they should be given a chance to live a normal childhood life; with access to education and to enjoy their youth. “We should not tolerate the rising number of homeless and street children, we have to do something. We need to help these children to reach their dreams and to not make them settle on the streets. We have to build a world where children should not be faced with these difficulties. We, young people, especially the youth should be a voice of these unheard children who is seeking for help. We need to act and end this problem to have a greater and brighter future ahead.”
Joan, 17, says that she chose this advocacy because these children need to be protected. People who are supposed to protect them may at times mistreat them because they might rightly or wrongly think that the street children are involved in criminal activities. It is very hard to live in the streets and survive outside the confines of the home where there are parents who provide nurturing and guidance. It is unusual and outside of the norm for a child below the age of maturity to be found living alone in a cold dark street asking for money and food to feed himself/herself. “The phenomenon of children living in the streets implies neglect on the part of parents or guardians of these children who are found in the streets. Maybe they were neglected by their parents, beaten by their parents or they just don’t have parents. Their pillows are hard but their hearts are soft. Our pillows are soft but what about our hearts? We need to do something for them because they can do something even better if we help them. Alone we can do little, but together we can do so much more to build strong children.”
Aleah, 17, says she chose this advocacy because she believes that all of them have so much to give but does not have the opportunity. The government should have programs that can help implement awareness of those who are in need. But not just them, we, the people can also help them in any form that we can. Even though we are students or teens our simple help of giving them coins can put a smile on their faces. “The youth is the hope of the future generation, but due to this issue only few are given the chance, sometimes those who are given the chance to be educated are only wasting and doesn’t know the importance of education. That is why I can say that we should appreciate and give more attention to those who are willing and determined to learn. “
Kimberly, 17, says that she chose this advocacy because she believes that this will make an action to lessen street children and that this will place the children in foster care, and in a place where they can mold themselves and dream bigger. “This advocacy will not just help the children but also the society to be more progressive. If we work together and give support financially each children who are in need will be given the chance to live the way we live. If we want to have a better society and better self, then this advocacy will help us nurture not just our actions but also our attitude and by this way, we can achieve our goals as one. “
Elinjane, 17, says that she chose this advocacy because she believes that children are the leaders of the next generation. As a community-oriented citizen, she thinks that if we want the world to be a better place, we should include the children living on the streets. They should be provided with their primary needs. They should have the education for they may carry the answers to our existing problems in the society. “An equal nation can be built by us together, starting on the children we see begging and sleeping on the streets. Let us help them not think to live on the streets forever. Let us help them find their dreams and do their best reaching those goals. Let us help them prepare to be exemplary citizens in their generation. All of these are possible by simply acting now with a heart fueled by will and passion.”
"homeless not hopeless" 