But, it is a long road for these children. “Although we think they have changed, they can revert back easily. Sometimes they are affected by what they hear said about them.
“Recently there was a boy who tried to commit suicide. He was a glue sniffer and other children said bad things about him. He lost all his self-esteem and became depressed.”
The refuge tries to provide things that the children are interested in such as music and instruments.
“When they come here first, many of the children know in total less than 100 words. In their world they have little vocabulary.
“It takes a long time to teach them so we let them listen to music and watch music videos and movies as much as they want. They become rich in vocabulary and start to consider the meanings of words,” he says. “Slowly they discuss among themselves and talk about it.
“It is through entertainment that they are developing their learning.”
ChildFund helps support this centre, where around 50 homeless children and youth live permanently, and another 200 come and go. Learn more about the work of the centre here.