SamItauma

It’s quite difficult, I must say. But we do this through explanation using the science and scripture. We also create questions and answers session during town hall meetings, pastors’ parleys (seminars). We’ve had a good success story no doubt but a lot still need to be done. For example, before now, stigmatized children never came out to the streets to beg for alms; they’d be viciously attacked. So they chose to stay in the bush. But now, they can come out and beg for alms without being attacked. However, it really depends on the area.

Out of compelling belief that the victims are being tortured for no justification, compassion, and sense of guilt for inaction. Some the have gone back home successfully and we always do a follow up for up two to four years. But I must say that reunification is the most challenging part of our work.

First of all, we try to reach out to their families in a bid to reunify them. Depending on the situation, we could try reunification again in two or months while the children are in the center. As the children are in the center, they undergo counseling and treatment even as they go school. Some of them are made to go school up to tertiary or college level while a few are made to learn trade - skill acquisition.

The government out of our pressure has enacted laws against the practices but implementation is a far cry from home.

Common traits include but not limited to epilepsy, being dull or extraordinarily intelligent, stubbornness, being inquisitive and waywardness.