Why street children?
Why are children living on the street?
Many children end up running to the streets due to a poor, unhappy and unstable family home environment. Extreme poverty can lead to the breakdown of a family unit which can force a child to run from home, or children are exploited by their own families and are sent to beg or work to earn money. Some children are orphaned through the death of a parent, or chased away from the home when a parent remarries.
Children living on the street are subject to a lack of access to adequate nutrition, water, basic hygiene and basic services such as medical care and education. They are vunerable to violent interference by police, exploitation, and unsafe sexual practices – which can lead to sexually transmitted infections – including HIV. Children living on the streets face a negative stigma in the local community and are often involved in substance abuse which places their health and development at great risk.
The best solution to getting children off the street long term is to focus on rehabilitation and reconciliation with existing family members. A strong focus on educating children is needed and the strengthening of support to families. Children are best kept in their immediate family or placed into a loving home with a close relative or a foster family.
Each child’s situation is different. The goal is to find the best solution for each individual child and to provide access to an education, love and support until they are self-sufficient and thriving in their own lives.