Little Girls are being used as sex objects

I tuned the FM radio …

I was not a radio fan, but I had to do that Thursday just to listen my friend’s interview. It was not only me, but many others from Peace and Green volunteers do the same wherever they are. Amelwork, WP member was going to be on the air that morning. Three women were discussing about a child girls’s rape, abuse and so many sad stories were flowing. I was trying which one is Amele’s voice, but couldn’t figured it out.

The journalist who interview Amele was sick and her interview was not aired, as I found out later.

The three women were speaking about some young girls. All the girls are from same sub city in Addis Ababa. Let me tell you what I heard.

Girl no 1:

She is a ten years old girl and live with her single mother. She doesn’t play with her school mates at school. She is always isolated and lonely. One day her teacher dared to take this girl aside and asked her why is she not playing like others. The girl said that somebody has raped her in the her house. The teacher call the mother and was asked who might be the rapist. The mother covered all the story and said, there is no male family member in the house who stay with them. It might happen outside but, it can’t be under her roof.

One day, when the city council popped in the house and finds a young boy in the house.

“Who are you, and where do you live?” They asked the guy.

“I’m so n so, live here with this family.” said the young guy.

He confessed he sleeps with the little girl in same bed.

Girl No 2: This one is a teenager who accused her uncle. The brother of her mother lived with them for many years in their house. He came from the village. He had been raping her for years, and the girl was telling her mother. Now, she reported him to police and the court of her sub city. The guy went to village, he is accusing the teenage girl about trying to destroy his reputation with her false accusations. The guy wants to send a go between and close the file. He is trying to cover the story in a traditional way and ask for apology( He is doing this around the family). He is speaking that she is lying about her being raped by him is a fake story in the court.

The girl is still waiting for justice. I’ll tell you the end of her story when I hear it from the media.

Many of the girls in that sub city: the fate of the child girl in that area seems to be used by family members as a sex victim. Families are giving them for rapists in their early age to get money. This is the sickening story I ever heard in my life. How on earth can somebody do this?

That area is known for being the poorest place in Addis. But I saw many shabby homes and areas elsewhere, but not with such kind of experience. Many of the children have single mothers. The child or children sleep in the same room while their mother brought a customer in and do her business. The only wall that separates the kids and their mom is a curtain. Many of the parents, if they are single or couples give birth not to raise their child or children properly, but to use them when they grow up. Children will be sent to beg and bring money, go and steal something, or they will be used for other purposes.

Why is this all punishment for some poor innocent lives?

My volunteer team is working in the same sub city. I told you many times how the children are dry, shabby, hungry and have no interest for education.

I can’t judge any of them. A poor child can’t listen to his teacher while he is listening his empty stomach churning and making noise…asking him for a piece of bread. Some of them faint in their school because of hunger.

The life style in Addis is compared …From Jacrose to Cherkos.

People in Jacrose estate, live very luxurious lives. Cherkos is the Estate where my group volunteers. It is normal there is difference in life. Life is may not welcome all of us in same way. But we all are born naked and will be buried with no cent. People who are given too much, I mean who live in Addis Ababa or Ethiopia want to share a little bit of what they have, live could be better for these children.

Any time we hear such stories, we cry, we mourn, we sympathize but never take a single step to reach for one vulnerable child. I see most of time people who has got little, likes sharing. Women or mothers who have bread in their house feed the poor, without worrying what will they feed their families tomorrow.

The little they have, they give it all.

People who has a lot, refuse to share.

I can say, they hate to give.

This is life!

So, do you think we can stop the rape of a child only by sharing our stories on WP?

Do you believe we will reach the vulnerable children by breaking only the silence?

I wrote and share too many stories on WP. I’ve never ever seen a single person comes out of the blue and try to lend a hand where I volunteer. How do we join our forces and stand to each other? When June comes, It’ll be two years since I join WP.

My heart cries out for all these poor children.

May their creator provide what they need to them because He is the only help to every human beings.