Latin American Street Children

Over the past few decades a growing number of children have taken to the streets of Central and South America. Gripped by poverty, thousands of children have resorted to living and working on the streets in the hopes of procuring enough funds to help themselves and their families survive. Although the inequality gap is slowly closing in Latin America, there are still millions of people who fall below the poverty line. This is especially evident in cities where street children have become part of the urban landscape. The hardships faced by some of societies smallest and most vulnerable citizens beg to be examined. This paper investigates the reasons why street children have become such a fixture in Latin American cities, the difficulties they

Many Latin American countries suffer from extreme inequalities when it comes to wealth distribution. This inequality is exacerbated by other social and political factors such as; land reform, natural disasters, unemployment and violence ( street children). The majority of street children consider themselves workers and are involved in some form of informal economic activity. This ranges from picking garbage and “guarding” cars to selling small goods. The meager amount these children earn often goes towards supplementing their family’s income. ( children in the streets ) Although less of a driving force than the economic instability faced by street children and their families, the breakdown of the family unit also contributes to the number of children on the streets. It has been found that street children more often than not come from single parent households where unemployment and illiteracy are not uncommon. Many street children also acknowledge a lack of affection and stability in their homes. ( children

Street children are incredibly vulnerable. They are often physically abused and many are sexually active from an early age. Some street children engage in “survival sex” as a way to acquire money, food or clothing. Some take up drugs as a way to deal with fear and loneliness ( street children). Street children often work over 40 hours a week and have no workers’ rights and are offered little, if any, protection from law enforcement. They are often harassed and detained by the police, even when they are not committing any crimes. Although some street children are involved in illegal activities such as theft, drug trafficking and prostitution, most are not ( Children in the