Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him – Psalms 127:3

It was Monday, the only off day for the old preacher, and he looked forward to some time alone with his wife. However, he couldn’t shake off a strong urge to visit the home of some distressed children his Church had been ministering to. Unable to suppress his sensing, he reluctantly succumbed to it.

The stench from the makeshift thatched house the boys called home,was repulsive as he approached it. A combination of unwashed clothing, strong body odor, urine, and a pile of garbage produced a foul odor that could make anybody throw up. Without toilet facilities in the house, good hygiene was compromised. No wonder, seven of the children were sprawled in the sand and writhing in pain. The Koranic teacher responsible for the boys was out, leaving his wife alone to administer some medicine they had acquired from the local pharmacy. There was no time to waste. The preacher’s vehicle and a taxi sped the children to the University hospital. But who are these children?

They are the “red-tomato-can” boys of Dakar, Senegal. The system calls them Talibes. From age four and above, some parents send their boys to study the Koran under a teacher called Oustass. With no financial obligation to the parents and no other source of income, the teachers claim begging as the only means of support for their “Daaras” – school system.” However, prevailing evidence reveals a well-designed system of exploitation and abuse of the children. Why any modern society would allow such a wicked system to thrive is beyond reason. Amazingly, it has survived some well-meaning governmental interventions as well as efforts by the UNESCO, NGOs and many Missionary houses.

Child exploitation is a serious crime in the world. Parents in many poor communities send their children, especially girls, to live with other family members under harsh conditions. Some send these children into farm plantations to labor for almost nothing, while others sell them into sex slavery. They have one common denominator: unimaginable cruelty and inhumane treatments.

In Acts chapter 16:16-24, Paul encountered a demon-possessed slave girl. A syndicate exploited her as a fortune-teller. She had become an enterprise for profit. Paul sparked a serious controversy by casting out the evil spirits. The syndicate incited a riot that ended with Paul and Silas beaten and imprisoned.

Such is the wickedness of man (Jer. 17:9); but God has a big heart for the oppressed and abused children. That’s why Jesus was indignant at His disciples when they tried to stop people from bringing their children to Him (Mk. 10:13-16).

So, do you have a heart for the abused children of this world? Do you see the pain and fear in their eyes when you pass them in the streets? Can you bend your knees?  Do you have a voice? What can you do to help alleviate their pain or help rescue just one of such children?