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Edley Maurer
<B><I>Member of SAFIRE</B>
Why did you call the association ‘SAFIRE’ ? What does it mean ? </B>
Basically SAFIRE stands for Service d’accompagnement, de formation, d’intégration et de réhabilitation de l’enfant. Moreover, due to the fact that we work with children, we want to give more value to the kids as if we are treating them as jewels, even if the word is not written like the precious stone itself.
Where does the idea of creating SAFIRE come from ?</B>
SAFIRE has been set up by people who saw their contracts with the ministry of Social security come to an end. I was one of them and we all wanted to set up an NGO to continue what we had begun in 2002 with the kids who spend time in the streets. Furthermore, we carried out a survey to estimate the need for the creation of SAFIRE. Luckily we got the support of the minister of Social security and the minister of Justice. That motivated us to set up SAFIRE !
What is the vision of this association ?</B>
SAFIRE aims to help children who spend time in the streets when they have nothing to do. As educators, we will spend time with those children to help them re-integrate society. We want to help them have a structured personality. Then, we want them to learn the values of daily life. And finally we want them to have a life with their families as well. Those children will be monitored very closely.
Do you think your association can reduce the number of children exposed to scourges like prostitution and drug consumption?<</B>
Indeed, in our survey, we found out that 6,500 children do not go to school and spend time in the streets. Among those 6,500, 1.6% children live away from everyone. 3.1% rarely go back home. 33.9% stay in groups and go back home only at night. And 61.6% live on their own without any parental authority. All these children are exposed to scourges. But, step by step, we are going to them one by one. Hopefully we can have an impact and reduce that number.
How does SAFIRE operate?</B>
SAFIRE has many educators in the major places of the island. What I call major places are those where the number of children who spend time in the streets is high. Regarding human resources, we work on a program of rehabilitation for the children. What we do is take them and educate them to find their places in society. We also work a lot with the other partners!
Are you confident that SAFIRE will be successful?</B>
We are still waiting for financial help from the ministry. But hopefully this will be done quickly. On the other hand, with the training we’ve got, we are ready to overcome the challenges of our tasks. By working with the street-children we are preventing many problems in the future ! I am confident that SAFIRE will be successful !
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