Through-out the world hundreds of thousands of children and
young people leave their homes for a number of reasons from
ill health to abject poverty, or are simply abandoned by
adults who are barely able to look after themselves let alone
hungry children who may be too disadvantaged to help seek out
an existence on the land. Many, too, have been orphaned by
HIV/AIDS
or have fled domestic violence. These street children are amongst the most disadvantaged in
the world and are not only open to financial exploitation, but
sexual abuse, kidnap and even death. In some countries they
are rounded up and put in prison, charged with not having an
adult to provide care for them. In other
places they are trafficked and taken across borders to work in domestic
servitude or as labourers on the land. All without papers. All without rights.
UNICEF currently believes the number of street children across the world runs
into tens of millions.
It is hard to
imagine for many in the west, a life without any form of
social safety net. There is no state provision for these
children only non-government organisations who do what they
can. If these children do not beg, steal or rob they would
literally starve to death. They have no
prospect of an education and so no prospect of a job or
providing for any children they may have in the future. Unless
people like yourself are prepared to help, these children will
have no future. Below there are a selection of pages about
street children in different parts of Africa which go into
more details about the challenges and dangers these children
face.
It is hard to get up to
date statistics for street children, because, by their very
nature they are elusive and different to collect data about.
As such statistics for street children are often out of date,
but they do show patterns. Here are some recent street
children statistics:
A study in Ethiopia found that street children normally worked 2-3 hours a day on the streets both before and after school. Most children in Ethiopia start working the streets at around 10yrs old.
There are approximately one million children living on the streets of Cairo, although the impact of the recent revolution there is not yet known. 82% of these children cite abuse at home for their circumstances. 30% of these children reported that they took drugs to relieve pain, hunger and violence.
There are a reported third of a million children living on the streets of Kenya with girls often forced into prostitution earning just 30p for each client.
Over 95% of street children in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria have been stigmatised as child witches and abandoned by their parents and forced to live on the streets.
In South Africa most street children are aged between 13-14yrs and state they end up on the streets because of family poverty, overcrowding, abuse, neglect, family disintegration and HIV/AIDS.
Street children in Africa, like all children on the continent, are technically
protected by the provisions of the African Charter on the Rights
and Welfare of the Child, also known as ACRWC or the Children's
Charter. It came into force in 1999 and amongst its provisions is
Article 25 which states "Any child who is permanently or
temporarily deprived of his family environment for any reason
shall be entitled to special protection and assistance."
It also guarantees all children the inherent right to life,
education and health and the right to be protected from all forms
of economic exploitation.
A short video documentary about street children in Angola and the daily challenges they face.
Pictures and images of street children with facts and figures in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Information about the growing crisis
of street children in Egypt escaping poverty and violence.
Facts and figures about street children in Madagascar; a growing problem that is overwhelming charities.
A short video exploring the dangers faced by street kids in Malawi recognised as a growing problem.
Information about street children in Uganda together with details of the Raising Up Hope for Uganda project.
A video documentary and article about the growing problem of street children in Zambia.
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FIn dout more across children in need across the world and what you can do to help their lives.
All the latest news about children in Africa, their circumstances, children's right developments and legal issues.
HIV and AIDS has had a devastating impact on on children and their families across Africa.
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