170 children in 11 residential homes in Fiji

There are currently 170 children placed 11 residential homes for children in Fiji.

This has been confirmed by the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Veena Bhatnagar who says two of these homes are state-owned and accommodates young girls between the ages of 14 to 18 years who are often victims of abuse and there are also occasions where the court orders remand for young female offenders to await their court date.

These homes include the Pearly Gates Home which houses 9 girls and the Fiji Juvenile Rehabilitation and Development Centre.

The remaining homes include Dilkusha Children’s Home which houses 32 children, Saith Christopher’s Home has 27 children, Saint Philomena has 7 children, 6 children at Homes of Hope, 24 children at Saint Mina, 12 children at Saint Tabitha, 12 children at Treasure Home, 26 children at Veilomani and 12 children at Lomani Au Homes.

She says these homes are owned and operated by the faith-based organizations.

Bhatnagar has also highlighted that the Ministry has profiled 266 people on the streets however, not all of them are permanent beggars.

She says some beggars are very mobile and have homes and they move from one town or city to another when there are opportunities such as festivals and national events.

The Assistant Minister says others spend their day in the streets but return home in the evenings while some have homes and family but prefer to live on the streets and there were those that are homeless and call the streets their home.

She says working with such individuals is challenging and the success rate is very low but some individuals have been given bean carts and are still selling while others have been issued with Hawker’s license and some have been assisted in finding work.

Bhatnagar says the Ministry works in partnership with faith based organizations in facilitating accommodation for these individuals in situations where families could not be found.