Former street‐working boys in Iraq highlight the importance of receiving education, training and support from families and other adults

Abstract

Aim This study investigated the perceptions of men who worked on the streets of Iraq when they were children. It looked at the risks they faced, how they developed resilience and what support they feel current working children need. Methods In 2021, semi‐structured interviews were held with 40 men aged 24–33 who used to work on the streets as children. They had attended the Zewa Centre, a drop‐in centre for street‐working children in 2004–2005. Thematic analysis was used to explore the transcribed interviews. Results Positive feedback focused on how they developed working and social skills and felt proud to support their families. Negative feedback included the consequences on their social lives and mental and physical health. Their suggestions for preventing street work in children were financial support, so that families could send their children back to school, and programmes that offer social skills training and vocational training. Social support from families, other adults and peers was very important. Conclusion Working on the streets had positive and negative consequences and support from family and friends influenced the men's attitudes in adulthood. They suggested that financial support, education and social and vocational training would be very important for today's street‐working children.

Mental disorders in former street-working boys

“…At both baseline and follow-up, each participant’s medical history was taken by the same person that afterwards conducted the diagnostic interview. At follow-up, but not at baseline, the structured diagnostic interview was followed by questions about their experiences of street work; the results obtained from the latter parts of the interviews have already been published [ 20 ].…”

Work‐free childhood to child labour and street life

“…The authors identified four themes with several sub-categories. 8 Experiences from street work were positive and negative (Theme 1). As adults, they appreciated the relationship with other streetworking children who were described as supportive, loyal and helpful when in need.…”

“…In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, Taib and co-authors report on their qualitative study among former street-working boys in Duhok, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 8 As children, aged 8-16 years, they had been engaged in various activities on the streets, for example, selling goods, shining shoes and working as assistants; a few were stealing or begging. Most claimed that they worked because of family needs and pressures.…”

“…The authors identified four themes with several sub‐categories 8 . Experiences from street work were positive and negative (Theme 1).…”

“…The paper by Taib and co‐authors 8 is a valuable contribution to the literature on child labour and its impact on children. It supports earlier research highlighting that street‐working children's main links are, for example, with parents, peers, customers, other adults and street educators from NGOs 9 .…”