“My father would get drunk and beat me and everything. I felt bad. I suffered on the inside. It didn’t matter that he beat me and it left marks on the outside, because they disappear. But it hurts you on the inside because something always remains there. And for me, that’s always been there in my heart.â€
– Damian, 15

Impact of Street Life

Street life can have a profoundly negative impact on child development.  Some children never make it off of the streets, dying or becoming homeless adults. Those who are able to transition off of the streets bring with them physical, emotional and psychological scars that can take years to heal.

Children on the streets are generally malnourished and underweight.  Many have infections that result from untreated wounds or living in unsanitary conditions, some of which can be life-threatening.  Others suffer from broken bones, head trauma, and other injuries that result from street violence.

Sexual activity is common among street children, even among those as young as 10.  As a result, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies are prevalent.  Sexual abuse and exploitation are also common.

Children who have grown up on the streets typically have minimal, if any, formal education and struggle to participate in mainstream society.  Without intervention, they tend to remain marginalized and often repeat the cycles of violence, abuse and family dysfunction.

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