Stray Juveniles

Written by: Mir Aqa Etibar

Some juveniles in Afghanistan, who do not study school nor have an occupation, are creating problems for their families and others. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

Abdul Rasool, a resident of Kapisa province says: “Some stray boys in our area are harassing school girls on the way to school and I am ashamed as a father to hear unpleasant words from boys.”

A girl from Nangarhar province says: “Some stray boys were annoying me when I was passing them. I shared the issue with my brother. He chased them and quarrel took place between my brother and the stray boys. They injured my brother with a knife and brother also hit one of them by a knife.”

What do people think about the causes of this issue?

Jaweed, a resident of the first part of Kohistan district, Kapisa province says: “One of my friends was a good goalkeeper and he was an intelligent student too. One day I saw him with stray boys. I advised him to leave the friendship of those boys but he did not accept. After sometimes I saw him under a bridge with drug-addicted people and this is his third year that no one knows about his life and death.”

A teacher, Shir Aqa from the mentioned district says: “I have sons and all of them are young boys. As they do not have any job, they are always sitting and walking in the lanes.”

How could people solve this problem?

Abdul Rasool says: “We used special methods to prevent stray boys in our area, first we got some educated boys, they talked to those stray boys individually and discouraged them from choosing the wrong way. We met with the residents of the area, the head of the village council, a member of the parliament, and the Imam of the Masjid and told them that all the stray boys in the area are their children and they do not know about their business. The Imam of the Masjid told them about Islamic way of living in the community and the district council members said that if in the future the stray boys are seen in the lane or front of the shops, and if they harass anyone, they would share the issue with security forces and now the issue is solved.”

Jan Agha, a resident of Ghorband district, Parwan province says: “I realized that one of my sons wanted to join stray boys. I talked to him and asked him not to join them. He asked me that he is unemployed. I made a booth by a carpenter and now he is selling falafel in front of one my friends’ shop.”