Children’s Shelter imposes measures to stop runaways

Children’s Shelter in Hulhumale’ has imposed more measures to stop the children there is State custody from running away.

Children have run away on their way back to the shelter from school, or by climbing over the 20-foot high wall enclosing the shelter.

CEO of Children’s Shelter, Zeenaz Adnan spoke to “Sun” this Monday and said that though they weren’t currently facing any problems with runaways, they were, nevertheless, imposing tougher measures to provide a permanent solution to the problem.

Zeenaz said that walls the children climb over to run away had been built higher, and that they were working on opening a playground for the children within this week.

“We hope that once the playground is opened, it will provide a huge solution to the problem. There’s a huge area vacant in the backyard. We are preparing it as a multi-purpose playground where they can play physical sports,” said Zeenaz.

She said that the playground will accommodate children as young as toddlers. And that older children will be able to play sports such as football there.

The playground is sponsored by State Trading Organization (STO).

Zeenaz said that they were working on hiring more staff as the number of children taken under State custody increases.

Children’s Shelter in Hulhumale’ accommodates children below the age of 10 years, while the Childre’s Shelter in Vilimale’ accommodates children above the age of 10 years.