Economic Livelihoods for Street Children: A Review

Summary

Today, more and more children and youth around the world find themselves with no choice
but to make a living for their own survival and often that of their families, thereby assuming roles traditionally played by their parents. Various factors have been contributing to the increase in their numbers. The most important is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic is having a critical impact, more than 3.5 million children under the age of 15 have lost both parents to AIDS and 13 million have lost at least one (Wax, 2003). In these heavily affected countries, HIV/AIDS orphans are expected to number 25 million by 2010 (USAID, 2002). In addition, HIV/AIDS has made more children vulnerable, as they care for sick parents, take on adult responsibilities, and live in weakened families and communities.