FORMER finance minister Felix Mutati has called for more funding to the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and has commended the organisation’s efforts in eliminating child abuse and helping young victims of abuse.
Speaking last Friday when he donated foodstuffs, sanitary products, face masks and K5,000 to Children in Crisis, a home for 13 vulnerable children run by the YWCA in Lusaka, Mutati said the organisation needed increased capacity to help more children.
He hailed the efforts that YWCA was making against the backdrop of inadequate financial resources, which he noted were being made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We should not use COVID-19 issues to minimise the giving aspect. l know there are many challenges and things that we need to do but the COVID-19 is pressure is on all of us. But let’s not forget that girl child who needs our hand,” he said.
The former Lunte Constituency Member of Parliament said while he appreciated that the government had many areas which needed funding especially during the COVID-19 fight, he noted that the YWCA must not be neglected.
“You are just as important and as crucial as any line of expenditure of COVID-19, you are at the same level. So some of the monies that are being donated by others through COVID-19, a small portion should be brought here because we have real people that are suffering a lot more and little longer than the patient [with] COVID-19,” he said.
“ …these kids need to help, so the appeal is that let a portion of those contributions find their way to YWCA.
“We are all suffering but the depth of suffering for a child who is abused is a lot worse because it carries that badge of shame in society and you may find that in most cases they don’t even want to get married, they hate men. Even the good people they just see everybody as enemy.”
Mutati also called on well-wishers and the corporate world to directly donate to YWCA to increase its capacity to help many more children and assured the organisation of his continued support.
Receiving the donation, YWCA branch president Mary Mulenga commended Mutati for responding to the organisation’s request for help.
She expressed happiness that a fellow Zambian was donating towards the plight of vulnerable children.
Mulenga said the donated items would last three months and wondered where other supplies will come from afterwards.
Mulenga thanked Mutati and urged him to consider making more donations to ease the challenges of the children under the care of YWCA while calling for more help from other well-wishers.
She said the YWCA was a non-political institution and therefore sought help from whoever could do so.
Mulenga said currently, the children had many needs ranging from blankets, beds and renovations to their shelter.
©Kalemba May 20, 2020
