Begging: Children On The Streets!

Thursday, October 18, 2018. It is about 10:00 a.m. The heavy downpour has hindered movement for many Yaounde dwellers. Around the central town, precisely in front of the Casino Supermarket and the John Kennedy Avenue, many business people could be seen hiding from the rainfall. Others timidly went about their daily chores.

Curious to notice are two children approximately six and four years, walking in the rain. Completely drenched with rain water, these children, each holding a pan, begged for money from passers-by. While the girl moves in front, the boy, of about four, staggers behind.

At the first sight, an onlooker will think the boy is blind. But that is far from the reality. As Cameroon Tribune (CT) reporters stop the girl for questioning, she reached out her pan hoping to get some pennies. At this point, the boy joins her and she quickly holds him tight.

The boy fully opened his eyes and one could observe he was shivering due to the chilly and wet weather. CT reporters asked the little girl, what is your name? Why are you moving in the rain? Where do you stay? Where are your parents? Unfortunately the reporters could not get an answer to any of their questions. The kids do not speak nor understand French and English languages.

The only word that came out of the girl’s mouth was Tsinga Elobi, the name of a neighbourhood in Yaounde. Nobody knows what the girl meant. Other onlookers tried to talk to the kids in one of the languages from the Northern Region, but to no avail. When a lady tried to care for the little boy, who was visibly affected by the climatic condition, both kids rapidly left. Before one could realise, they were already negotiating the bend leading to the...