Street Children is the name used to refer to children living on the streets of the cities, towns, waste land or public parks usually around business areas where they thrive on whatever commerce has for them. Some street children become beggars, car washers, shine shoes, street vendors or restaurant helpers who have to eat late only to get leftovers. When it is time to call it a day, they sleep in pavements, push carts, empty buildings, or just any place when they are worn-out from the day’s struggles.
According to the UK-based “Consortium for Street Children”, there are approximately 100 million street children all over the world. The exact number of street children is impossible to figure out but it roughly runs by millions. Homeless children are largely visible in urban areas but you can also find them in all places and regions of least developed, developing, and the riches countries worldwide.
Children may have no other choice but to live on streets because of some reasons like;
- Poverty- they have no means of getting the basic needs like safe water, food, health care, clothes and shelter.
- War- dwelling on the streets is a post was stress reaction and for many children the streets can provide the solution.
- Family conflict or family breakdown is a strong factor why children run away from home and find comfort on other children or peers on the streets.
- Neglect and mistreatment- their home cannot provide them their needs and they feel unwanted and neglected. They get no parental supervision and love.
- Orphaned and abandoned- children have no place to go but on the streets unless the proper authorities attend to them.
- Physical and Sexual Abuse- in homes where one or both parents are alcoholic, or drug user, children are likely beaten inflicting both emotional and physical pain. They are also in danger of being sexually abused. They escape when they can no longer take the situations.
- They need to contribute to the family income.
The young, gentle and innocent mind of a child is not capable of handling severe pain and trauma that’s why they go on the streets to while away their tired emotions from hard experiences. Life on the streets has harmful effects on children.
- Poor education or no education at all
- Malnourishment- they get some food but not balanced diet and not nutritious
- Exposure to diseases- they do not have the capability to maintain hygiene
- Unstable lifestyle- they move from one place to another
- Subjected to exploitation, trafficking and sexual abuse
- Violence, undesirable groups are often related to street children
- Use of prohibited drugs- they resort to using drugs to escape the stress of daily problem
Somehow, somebody have to do something to ease the problem of street children to stop their endless treadmills on the streets.
- Prioritize initiative to reduce poverty
- Investments in social services like education and health
- Re-unite them with families or relatives
- Find them adoptive families or foster homes
- Humanitarian aid to support children
Given the right attention at the right time these children will be able to tell stories of hope and courage. Until when is the time that a street child can give you a clear and definite answer when asked; which way is your home?
We are accepting donations to help street children get an education to change the course of their lives. Children of the Planet Charity Trust supports programs for children’s education from early childhood to adolescence.
Donate now! Contact http://www.childrenoftheplanetcharity.com/contact-us/.