Put street children at the heart of development

EVERY DAY we turn up our noses, lock our SUV doors and turn on the air conditioning in our motor vehicles as we approach the traffic lights or some other place where children who live and work on the streets frequent. Commonly, these children have no home (and if they do, cannot return for one or more reasons) and are, therefore, forced to reside on the roadside, in abandoned buildings, bus stations or parks.

Many of us scoff at them and grumble to ourselves about the whereabouts and apparent carelessness and neglect of their parents or other family members. Rarely do we investigate what conditions could have caused them to be in this situation or ask the relevant authorities what they are doing for these children. A few of us abuse and exploit them and some of us (thankfully) try to 'help' by giving a little money, clothes or some food every so often.

DIFFICULT TIMES

The visibility and plight of street children is a manifestation of the often very difficult circumstances children in Jamaica are subjected to. They are evidence of the high levels of poverty and deprivation and social neglect. Sadly, although poverty is not the only reason for this problem, they usually increase in numbers during an economic crisis.

There is very little mention about children living and working on the streets or people who are homeless (in general) when we banter in Parliament or on the airwaves about who loves the poor more, and suggest the best strategies for economic growth, sustainable development and/or poverty alleviation.

However, we know very well that not much, if any, consideration is given to addressing the needs of the homeless. Do you realise that there is a whole community of people who are homeless in the vicinity of the much-talked-about 'Justice Square' for several years?

I often wonder what goes on in the minds of those responsible for the care and protection of our children, including our politicians, when they pass these children on the streets, especially at traffic lights where we are often forced to confront the barefaced realities - even for just a minute - as they attempt to clean our windows or just beg some money. Could it be that these children who we alienate/exclude have no place in the 'Jamaican Dream' - the cohesive and just society that will (or should?) be the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business?

An estimated 6,500 children live and work on the streets across Jamaica, according to the 2002 National Survey of Street Children. Generally, street children populate urban areas. They face multiple deprivations and violations of their rights. They do not get to enjoy their rights to education, health, leisure, security, food, rest and play like the majority of children in Jamaica because they spend most, if not all, of their time living and working on the streets.

In 2010, the Ministry of Youth, in collaboration with the Statistical Institute of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank, conducted a survey among "young people aged 15-24 years who are living (i.e. sleeping, eating and working) on the streets". The survey included both 'youths of the street', who live and sleep on the streets, and 'youths on the street', who earn their living or beg on the street but return home at nights. A number of concerns, not unique to children who live and work on the streets, were highlighted but there is a stark difference in their lived realities.

LIVING IN FEAR

The majority of street youths interviewed (54 per cent) do not feel safe walking alone on the street and nine per cent only feel safe in the daytime. Thirty-two per cent of the street youths feared gunmen, and 18 per cent gave other reasons, 15 per cent of which pointed to the police and another 15 per cent feared rapists.

Why is all of this important, and why should we care about them? These children who live and work on the streets could be your brother, sister, cousin or child. They aren't miscreants wreaking havoc. They are a product of neglect by their families and institutions. They do not voluntarily decide to choose these harsh conditions; they are, more often than not, forced. We must ensure that they, too, are given priority in our development policies for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Jaevion Nelson is a youth development, HIV and human rights advocate. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jaevion@gmail.com.