TANZANIA

Next time you see a street child, think about where they came from

Before children come to the street they have been exposed to a situation at home, at school or in their community that has made them unhappy.

Society doesn't like the pest of street children begging on the streets of Arusha. The child that you see asking for money often has no choice and would rather not be living this street life.
Every child leaves their homes for a different reason and Mkombozi believes children who leave their home are vulnerable children.
Before a child comes to the street they have been exposed to a situation at home, at school or in their community that has made them unhappy. Mkombozi believes children are at risk of coming to the streets if they live in poverty, if they are abused or neglected, when their mothers are victims of domestic violence and the children are abused within the home. Street children have often come from homes where conflict and fighting is more common than love and care, where family money is misused and not spent on the children and where the children do not get the opportunity to go to school.
When children find themselves in these situations, they feel they have no choice, but to leave their home, looking for a better life. They might travel to Arusha only to find there is no work available and no chance of schooling, so are forced to turn to petty crime and begging.

When we look at our at our own children, we hope that they will never have to make the decision to run to the streets because they will never have to live not knowing where their next meal will come from, we want out children to live without abuse and we wish they will have opportunities for education and work.
Children living on the streets are children just like yours and mine, but ones who have not had the benefit of a secure and loving home. Most of the children you see in Arusha have already experienced more suffering then their age should allow. Next time you see a street child, try to remember why they are there. Life has offered them little choice.
Try to remember each street child is an individual, each with their own story, having to look after themselves, some of them as young as four. Many of them have come from homes where life is worse than on the streets.
We must remember that children living on the streets are at risk and that we need to offer them love, care and a chance. When we see street children we need to appreciate they are just a child, like our own.

If you want to help, instead of giving street children money, they would appreciate food and someone talking to them, instead of being constantly ignored.

Mkombozi has been working with street children and youths since 1997 and the charity reaches over 1000 children each year in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions of Tanzania

Hannah Johnson and Caroline Ellson
Arusha
16 April 2005