Simon Juma,19, joined the street in 2016 at 12, he is now being sheltered at St. Claire Orphanage Home in Juba - Credit: Eye Radio/Madrama James

A former street child said bad parenting and war have forced many children to go and live on the streets of Juba.

Simon Juma who comes from Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria state called on the government to support institutions including non-profit organizations to help educate street children and orphans in the country.

Juma who joined the street in 2016 at 12 is now sheltering at St. Claire Orphanage Home in Juba.

The 19-year-old says he escaped from what he described as “mistreatment” at the hands of his relatives.

Juma survived with the uncle who took him from his parents when he was still a small child.

He was later absorbed into St. Claire Orphanage House for children.

According to him, he could not understand if his parents are still alive though the uncle lives in Ethiopia with his family.

“I don’t know where my parents are, I don’t even know their faces, I don’t know if my mother is still alive,” Simon said.

The former street child says they are facing challenges of basic services including feeding, water, and difficulties in paying their school fees.

He is now calling on the government and well-wishers to come to their support.

Juma stated that the assistance will enable them to have a conducive life and help them accomplish their learning programs.

“My message to those who leave their children to go on the street is, that a child cannot go on the street without a reason, maybe a mother is fighting with her husband or a husband fighting with his wife all the time, or the husband is drinking alcohol and leaving the responsibilities to the wife, that why a child can run away from home,” said Juma.

“Parents should take their children to school, maybe later they will be the future of South Sudan. The fighting in 2013 led many of them to be on the street, and some relatives mistreated them, and this took them on the streets,” he said.

“The help we want in St. Claire the children’s home is school fees, food, and water, my message to Mama Betty, is may God prolong her life so that she can be with us.”

Juma urged the parents to cease violence, a reason he says forced many children to the streets.