Street Children: Promising Practices and Approaches

This paper seeks to identify key principles of working with street children by examining and presenting experience of 18 projects from around the world. The paper explores definitions; reasons for moving to the street; problems and issues facing street children and resources available to them. It concludes that the following are needed for effective programmes – trained professionals; integration into family, school and labour markets; reaching children where they are; individualised services; children’s participation; physical and mental health care; involving families and communities; lobbying and advocacy; integrated services; networking and linking first and second levels of risk.