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Children of the Streets

*have you tried our online Street Children Challenge? Click Here
Summary: To increase awareness and understanding of the difficulties and dangers facing children of the streets

Numeracy (NNS)/ Literacy (NLS) or other curriculum area focus/reference:

Speaking and Listening:

  • To listen, understand and respond appropriately to others· Group discussion and interaction
  • To talk effectively as members of a group

Resources needed:
Target: Mid - upper primary
Objectives:
  • To challenge ideas and preconceptions children may have street children
  • To understand some of the causes, problems and consequences of children living on the streets
Length: 40 minutes - 1 hour


Description of Activity
This activity is based on research carried out by and among street children themselves. The research was co-ordinated by CSKS a Street Children programme in Dhaka, Bangladesh that is one of the Global Footprints Southern partners. CSKS support children of the street who survive without family, entirely on their own, except for the company of other street children or those willing to help and support them.
1. Divide the children into small groups
2. Provide each group with the list of difficulties and dangers that children of the streets face. Can children think of any other problems not listed?
3. Explain that research carried out with street children in Dhaka found out which difficulties and dangers were the most serious to them.
4. Ask each group to discuss the list (adding other issues if they have thought of them) and decide by consensus what they think are the 'top 10' most serious risks facing street children. They should be asked to rank the 10 from most serious to least. They can write these or cut them out and glue them into the blank table below.
5. Ask each group to present a rationale for their selection to generate debate.
6. Reveal the results of the research by and with street children in Dhaka. Are the results of the research very different to their perceived priorities? Are they surprised by the results? Why? Why not?
   
Areas of Oxfam Curriculum for Global Citizenship addressed by activity
Knowledge and Understanding
Skills
Values and Attitudes
Social justice and equity Critical thinking Sense of identity and self-esteem
Diversity Ability to argue effectively Empathy and sense of common humanity
Globalisation and Interdependence Ability to challenge injustice & inequalities Commitment to social justice and equity
Sustainable development Respect for people and things Valuing and respecting diversity*
Peace and conflict Co-operation and conflict resolution Concern for the environment and commitment to sustainable development
Belief that people can make a difference

 

Follow-up/Further ideas/Homework
The activity provides a good starting point for further work on examining causes, consequences and possible solutions to the problems of homelessness and street children both locally and in Southern contexts.

 

Resources
NB: for more accurate printing, the resources are available on separate pages - page1 | page 2 | page3

1.

Being hungry and not having enough to eat

Being tortured by police

Not having a bed to sleep on

Not enjoying the work they do on the streets

Feeling lonely; not having any friends

Not being able to get a job

Nowhere to go for protection from the rain

Feeling frightened and hopeless about the future

Not being able to learn to read, write and do maths

Being abused and robbed of their money by adults

Not having clean water to drink

Having very little money and earning very little from their work

Not being able to get medicines when ill

Girls not being able to marry

Adults insulting them or physically hurting them

Not having the power to protest against bad treatment by adults

Not having clean clothes to wear

 

2.

Our Top 10 difficulties and dangers facing Children of the Street

 

Group_______________________________________________

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

 

 

TOP TEN IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AS IDENTIFIED BY STREET CHILDREN IN DHAKA
1. Being tortured by police
2. Being abused and robbed of their money by adults
3. Adults insulting them or physically hurting them
4. Not enjoying the work they do on the streets
5. Not being able to get a job
6. Girls not being able to marry or finding it difficult to marry
7. Feeling frightened and hopeless about the future
8. Having very little money and earning very little from their work
9. Not having the power to protest against bad treatment by adults
10. Not being able to learn to read, write and do maths

 
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