Who are Street Children?

There are varying definitions about of who constitutes a “street child”. According to Wikipedia these “form a continuum, ranging from children who spend some time in the streets and sleep in a house with ill-prepared adults, to those who live entirely in the streets and have no adult supervision or care.”

The United Nations and UNICEF refer to children “of” and “on” the streets, the former describing children who live permanently on the streets and the latter being those who drift on and off the streets, often taking home the day’s spoils.

At Amasango, we define street children as profoundly poor children who spend a substantial part of their lives on the street in the city or in the township. This is where they beg, work, eat or just sit. These children are extremely vulnerable to illness and abuse. Most are physically and mentally able but, through no fault of their own, are amongst the most vulnerable people in society. While many see street children as a social nuisance, we see them as intelligent, resourceful, tough and resilient. They eke out an existence in the toughest of environments and survive in circumstances most adults only have nightmares about. They are God’s children, and we have a responsibility to protect them.