The Street Children of Latin America Julia Jackson

The Street Children of Latin America Julia Jackson Alyssa Gill Sheina Whitney Gerald Mattern

Who Are Street Children? § Children who live primarily on the streets of a major city § They are apart of the subcatergory: “thrown away children” § They are more likely to come from single parent homes, or from impoverished families § Usually in the densely populated areas of the developing nations in Latin America § There are two major types: home-based and street-based

Home-Based vs. Street-Based § Home-based are those who at some point have the opportunity to return home either after working all day in the streets or after a few days of making a little money § Street-based are the children who spend all their time on the streets and do not have homes or any contact to family. § Because some street children are home-based, it is sometimes difficult to determine just how many children are considered “street children”

A Few Characteristics § There is an estimated 40 million children living on the streets, or about 45% of the children in Latin America § Most come from shantytowns and the slums § Mostly males aged 10 -15, most girls are able to work in homes § They sleep under bridges, abandoned buildings, or in public parks § Most leave their families because they are abused by relatives, extreme poverty § Most become sexually active at a very early age, and engage in “survival sex” § Some girls are involve in prostitution § http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 1113205/table/T 2/

Main Causes § Most try to either support themselves, or supplement their families income § Most are forced on the streets because of economic necessities § Some families send their children to find work as street vendors, street workers, street entertainers. Those who aren’t with the family most steal and are beggars as well § Some go out with older siblings, then go into their own work § Inadequate government support to families § High birth rates leads to more children, which leads to more children ending up in poverty § Natural disasters, like hurricanes can displace families and children from one another, like in Haiti § The death of a parent § Mental and emotional abuse § Intentions of reaching America

Types of street children § There are three main subgroups of street youth in third world and developing countries. § The largest group is children who work in the streets part time. § The second group consists of children who run away usually for domestic abuse issues and survive by scavenging, begging and stealing § The third group consists of impoverished families who live in public areas

Outcomes: Abduction § Many children are abducted because they are orphans § Other children are convinced to be sold by their parents in hopes of providing better job opportunities or for quick profit

Outcomes: organ trade § Popular for homeless families to sell children and or organs for amounts ranging from tens to thousands of us dollars § Organs are sold all over the world through the black market

Outcome: Prostitution § Boys are exploited more often than young girls § Increased number of infected children with HIV § In sao paulo brazil, 4/5 of prison population is comprised of former street children § Red- illegal, blue- legal but not regulated, green- legal and regulated

Outcomes: Gangs § Gangs view children valuable resources § The majority of recruits are tricked into joining. Gangs offer protection, food, shelter, education, money ; essentials. It is also common for children to be drugged and threatened for services § Constantly decreasing age of recruitment

Solutions to the Problem of Street Children • There are numerous solutions to the issue of the increasing number of street children • The issue of street children has been traditionally tackled with four methods: • Institutionalization • Rehabilitation • Outreach • Prevention

Institutionalization (Government) § The institutionalization of street children was implemented with the goal of correcting behavior § Focused on correctional education instead of support and care § These programs were ineffective and expensive § Polarized street children by treating them as criminals

Rehabilitation (Community) § The most widespread community organizations are churches and local orphanages § These institutions deal with the issue of street children by providing housing, food, education, clothing and medical care § Community organizations focus on rehabilitation instead of institutionalization § There are issues with the process of rehabilitation as it is expensive and requires a long-term commitment § Children learn few skills and are not motivated to seek employment

Outreach (NGOs and Community Groups) § Emphasizes practical skills and employment § Deployment of “ecuadores de rua” (“street teachers”) who meet and educate children in their own communities § Some deem these programs a failure because they do not focus on preventing the creation of street children in the first place

Prevention (NGOs and Governments) § Focuses on economic problems and human rights issues § Utilizes self-help initiatives and educates families/children § Other initiatives include vocational training for parents and welfare programs for poor families § The main issue is that they are expensive

Examples of Nations with Street Children §Argentina Once a prosperous country Seen today as a developing country Economic globalization Wedge between classes Major Cities: -Buenos Aires -Córdoba -Rosario

Argentina: State of Children §Major Issues § Poverty § Violence in Education § Right to Education § Health § Native Children § Child Labor

Chile One of the most stable countries in Latin America Major Cities: Santiago Puente Alto

Children of Chile §Major Issues § Poverty § Healthy § Education § Child Labor § Child Abuse § Street Children

Discussion Questions • What do you think is the best solution method for helping street children (Institutionalization, Rehabilitation, Outreach or Prevention) ? • Why do you think the age of gang members being recruited continues being decreased? • Which other Latin American countries do you think would have a larger street child population?

Resources § Rizzini, Irene, and Mark Lusk. "Children in the Streets: Latin America's Lost Generation. " Street Children Resources. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http: //www. streetchildrenresources. org/ wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/children-in-the-streets- latinamerica. pdf>. § http: //isw. sagepub. com/content/40/1/89. full. pdf+html § http: //www. lasco. ie/ § http: //www. casaalianza. org. uk/northsouth/Casa. Web. nsf/Street. Children/Street_Children_Facts? Open. Document § http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 1113205/ § http: //www. streetchildrenresources. org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/children-in-the-streets-latinamerica. pdf § http: //www. humanium. org/en/