Comprehensive Help for International Little Destitutes
{A manual for those working with street children.}

BASIC BACKGROUND DATA
Introduction:

Street children are very unfortunate and forgotten, sometimes orphaned children, many of whom have taken a very big decision for a small mind, and have run away from home. A large percentage have even perhaps been forcibly thrown out by uncaring or poverty stricken family members. The reasons are mostly conflicts with parents or step-parents, broken homes, ill treatment by family members, or there are the rural children who have simply become attracted to big city life through the mass media, mainly films.

Having run away or finding themselves on the street, they are forced to live on the pavements, under bridges or in make-shift shelters, eat from dustbins or obtain food by begging or stealing.

Some are rag-pickers, others sometimes help out in small tea shops, shine shoes or do myriad odd jobs. None attend school. Very few have good health. Many, specially the very young, die an anonymous and agonising death.

The number of street children in India, and the world, has increased dramatically over the past few years due to deteriorating living conditions in both rural and urban areas, and the migration of the village family or members into the city in search of work to pay back loans taken from village money-lenders. The children are the first and worst sufferers. They are left most of the day uncared for, and when the parents get weak, sick, or worse, die, the children are left alone.

A percentage of these homeless children are "gainfully" employed as tea-boys, mechanics' helpers, errand-boys etc. Others are self-employed as rag pickers, newspaper boys/girls or shoe shine boys. Most just wander aimlessly in the streets and on railway platforms, begging, stealing, pick-pocketing - eventually coming under the control of "dad as" or manipulators who live off the meagre pickings of these young children. Many street children are forced into prostitution, thievery, drugs etc., and are exposed to AIDS, crime and terrorism, or are lured with promises of so-called good jobs and good living into occupations like carpet weaving, fireworks factories etc. where they work under inhuman conditions unable to escape. A large majority simply die. They are the forgotten children of the world.

The phenomenon of street children is finally being recognised as one of the major problems affecting major towns and cities in both developed and developing countries alike, not to speak of the future of the nations they live in.

What do they need?
In general, the prime need of street children is that of care and security, and a feeling of being wanted. This manual, written by the founder of some of the most successful Street Child Care Centres in India, S. Manihara and his wife, provides the know-how, guidance and information on the needs of these young children, and explains how a centre can initially be set up which can become a home to them, a place they can call their own, develop bonds, learn skills and grow to become useful, productive, responsible members of society. S. Manihara has devised and implements a totally non-institutional five phase strengthening system, starting with the first, where street children are personally invited to visit night rescue centres all the way up to later settling them into being part of mainstream society. He calls it the "CHILD" system - Comprehensive Help For India's (or International) Little Destitutes.

The "CHILD" system stresses the primary need of street children which is that of security, as they have no home or family around them. Circumstances beyond their control drive them away from their houses, and they need love, affection and security much more than food and clothing. Thus, the "CHILD" System believes that, given a safe place in which a street child can feel wanted, 75% of the battle to set such children on the path to a better life is already won. This then forms the main objective of the "CHILD" system - to provide a secure, healthy environment where a child can feel he or she belongs. It is a system that can be implemented anywhere in the world, but only by dedicated people.

Institutionalisation Versus "CHILD" Rescue Centres
IMPORTANT: It should be noted that the author does not, in any way, condone "institutionalisation" of children, especially Street Children. Although the "CHILD" System utilises "semi-residential and residential" Rescue Centres, the children are there of their own accord, enroll themselves in the various programmes, manage the projects themselves, under guidance, and can leave whenever they like. The mood in the Centres must be like a home atmosphere, at all times. For first-hand experience of how it is implemented, successfully, please visit the SKCV Children's Trust Centres in Vijayawada, AP, INDIA.

REMEMBER: A child's best situation is at home with relatives, in most cases... but that is not always the case. Your "CHILD" Centres are more like a home than anything else. Your "CHILD" Residential Centre should NEVER become an institution! What the System is meant to do is set up 'home environments'. This can be done through individual family-type situations in small houses, or through the medium of larger family-style projects. Small groups of the older children can be encouraged to move in together and form a "Commune". It is your vigilance and good management that will make the difference between "institutions" and "homes".

The five phases that this manual takes you through, step by step, are: