#iMatterToo Uyo Street Children: Misconception: Street children left homes on their own

One of the misconceptions about street children in some quarters which plays a great role in hindering the necessary attention that street children matters deserve that will spark the engagements and conversations around their issues  is that street children and teens GLADLY abandon their homes and parents on their own to seek refuge in the ‘comfort’ of the streets, thus, they prefer the street life to the comfort of the homes, unbridled freedom to the monitoring and guidance of the parents. 

A street child/teen may appear happy and resilient on the streets, but behind those smiles and struggles is a child neglected by the parents, the government and society; a child unable to be fed, clothed, loved, cared and educated by his/her family, a child orphaned by AIDS, a child maltreated by the family, a child working on the streets to earn and support his/her family. Truth is, there is no child or teenager that will ever prefer the ‘comfort’ of the streets when there is an option of better feeding, shelter, education, love and care, and grooming.

So no! Street children did not choose the streets as their best option, rather the streets became their last option in the face of the challenges they faced with their biological care-givers because the society generally failed to come to their rescue.

Be a light to a street child today. Help show that the world truly cares about street children

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