Saturday, July 11, 2009

Street Children of Indonesia

Read the full document at www.streetchildren.org.uk/reports/Indonesia%20Child.doc

When asked, “Why are you on the streets?

“My parents liked to fight, I couldn’t stand it in the house anymore so I took off for Jakarta” (16-year-old boy).

“My parents died. I lived at an Islamic boarding school for five years and never saw my family. So I bolted from the boarding school” (12- year-old boy).

“Because things were tough economically I was often beaten by my parents. That’s why I fled from home” (16-year-old boy).

“My older brother urged me to hit the streets because of the economy” (12-year-old girl).

“My parents divorced, so I caught the train to Jakarta”(13-year-old boy).

When asked, “How do you survive?”

One 16-year-old said he sold papers, polished shoes and helped out in a restaurant. A 13-year-old boy said he jumped car rides for tips (some streets in Jakarta cannot be travelled unless there are 3 passengers in the car). Another (17-year-old boy)said he sang in the streets, carried umbrellas for people on rainy days, and scavenged.

“What kind of problems do you have on the streets?”

A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old stated that they had been raped. One was made a cripple from a beating he received (17-year-old). A girl reported that she is always forced to hand over money.

“How do you handle the violence and who helps you?”

“You have to struggle when someone wants to rape you, and you have to fight when the cops try and grab you. Nobody can help you, you’ve got to help yourself ” (16-year-old boy).

“Just keep your mouth shut. The mosque manager can help you out. Also, make a stick out of wood” (17-year-old boy).

“Give them what they want. But you have to fight them off when they try and kiss you” (16-year-old girl).

Complete article can be read at www.streetchildren.org.uk/reports/Indonesia%20Child.doc

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