Guatemala's Street Children: Forging survival paths

Abstract

Anne Birch relates the experiences of street children in Guatemala. From their testimonies she draws out the survival techniques they adopt as a way to address the root cause of problems affecting children. Development (2000) 43, 55–59. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1110118

Tourism and Street Children in Antananarivo, Madagascar

“…Studies focusing on street children have been carried out in a range of countries, including, for example, Brazil (Leite and de Abreu Esteves, 1991;Scanlon et al, 1993); Egypt (Bibars, 1998); Ethiopia (Beyene and Berhane, 1997); Guatemala (Birch, 2000); Honduras (Wright et al, 1993); India (Patel, 1990); Indonesia (Beazley, 2002); Mexico (Jones, 1997); South Africa (Mufune, 2000); Tanzania (Lugalla and Mbwambo, 2000); and Zimbabwe (Muchini, 1993). A great number of aspects related to life on the street have been investigated, such as health and sexual behaviour (Bond, 1992;Dube, 1997); social organisation (Beazley, 2002;Winchester and Costello, 1995); social spaces (Beazley, 2002); and survival strategies (Birch, 2000). There is also a substantial literature on aid strategies in the context of street children (Chawla, 2002;Epstein, 1996;Scanlon et al, 1993).…”

“…Many street children carry out economic activities such as running errands, singing in buses, opening taxi doors, guarding and washing cars or shining shoes (Beazley, 2002;Jones, 1997;Scanlon et al, 1993). These children contribute to family income, and often work ten hours or more per day (Birch, 2000;Wright et al, 1993). Incomes may often be irregular or insufficient to survive, however, and particularly children of the street may thus often beg, steal, or be forced into prostitution (Birch, 2000;Jones, 1997;Wright et al, 1993).…”

“…These children contribute to family income, and often work ten hours or more per day (Birch, 2000;Wright et al, 1993). Incomes may often be irregular or insufficient to survive, however, and particularly children of the street may thus often beg, steal, or be forced into prostitution (Birch, 2000;Jones, 1997;Wright et al, 1993).…”

“…Children of the street may also have lost one or both parents through disease (often AIDS), war, violent conflict or family separation (Jones, 1997;Mann, 2002). Many children may have left home voluntarily for reasons of physical and/or mental abuse (Birch, 2000). Finally, politicians in many countries have taken little interest in addressing the problem of street children and its underlying causes.…”

Conceptualizing the Survival Sector in Madagascar

“…Regarding street children, another vulnerable group in many countries, UNICEF reported as far back as in 1992 that there were 100 million street children worldwide (UNICEF 1992, cited in Epstein 1996), a number that may not have declined in the past 15 years. In fact, given the reasons for children living on the street, including poverty as a result of inflation, economic recession, rural–urban migration, loss of parents through disease, war, violent conflict or family separation, or physical and/or mental abuse (Birch 2000; Jones 1997; Jones and Nelson 1999; Mann 2002; Minujin, Vandemoortele and Delamonica 2002; Mufune 2000), street children numbers may rather have increased. The fact that no newer global official figures on street children appear to be available also attests to the marginality of the problem in the perception of policy makers.…”