Guatemala

For a child like Michael, living in Guatemala has many challenges. There are many rich people who have access to resources and facilities, but the wealth in the country is not shared around equally. Most families have very little money, especially when there are lots of mouths to feed. Many don’t have access to basic facilities like clean water and health care.

An estimated 75% of Guatemala’s population exists below the poverty line, with two out of three children considered to be living in poverty ^[1]. Around 60% of Guatemalan homes do not even have enough money to cover basic food ^[2], and as a result Guatemala has one of the worst nutritional rates in the region ^[3].

Guatemala is the Central American country with the highest percentage of child labour, with around 507,000 children and young people (between 7 and 14) working, mainly on family farms ^[4]. This has a major impact on their education and future options.

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At Home

Guatemala has seen war and unrest throughout its history, something which underpins the national acceptance of violence and abuse in the home. Neglect is also a common occurrence, something which can often be more damaging mentally than any physical abuse experienced.

Intra-family violence, both physical and psychological, is – according to 43% street children surveyed in 2002 - the factor in their ‘choosing’ a life on the streets ^[5]. Estimates suggest that 80% of girls had been sexually abused ^[6].

While some violence is unexpected and isolated, most violent acts against children are carried out by people they know and should be able to trust. Although the consequences may vary according to the nature and severity of the violence inflicted, the short- and long-term repercussions for children are very often grave and damaging ^[7].

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On the Streets of Guatemala

The streets of Guatemala are places where a child will come into contact with drugs, gangs and criminal activities. Displacement, poverty, abuse, neglect – there are many reasons why a child may leave home for a life on the streets. Unless these issues are tackled at the source, we may continue to see an increase in the number of street children.

Recent estimates of the number of children actually living on the streets of Guatemala put the figure at 2800 and rising ^[8]. A remarkable 40% come from other countries, given Guatemala’s location that makes it a major transit point to the US ^[9]. A 2002 survey revealed that 70% of street children have brothers and sisters on the streets or in centers for street children ^[10].

It is estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 children and adolescents are part of street gangs ^[11]. More than 10 children die every week as a result of violence ^[12].

Street children are especially at risk of sexual exploitation and activities such as drug abuse that render them more susceptible to contracting HIV. Some 90% of street children in Guatemala in 2002 were estimated to be victims of sexual abuse at some time during their lives on the streets ^[13].

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At a Toybox Project

A Toybox project means life can be a lot better. In the project, children are safe, supported and given opportunities that will put them in good stead for the future.

The projects meet a variety of needs – education, food, shelter, vocational training, the chance to play, and above all a ‘family’ that loves and cares for them. Some of the projects provide short-term residential care before children return to their family, others provide day-care or longer-term support. Toybox projects are part of a city-wide network, each network resourcing, training and equipping staff with the tools they need to provide quality support and care to street children and children at high risk.

Toybox projects seek to empower children through the Toybox Ambassador scheme. The children take part in activities in their local communities giving them the opportunity to speak out about children’s rights and how they think children should be treated.

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Here in the UK

Although some children do run away from home in the UK, there are many ways they can get help from authorities and organisations. However, in Latin America, it is a very different story. Although there are some government facilities, the effectiveness of such initiatives are minimal when faced with such a large volume of children needing them.

Each year in the UK, approximately 100,000 children under the age of 16 run away and stay away from home for at least one night, 1 in every 6 sleeping on the streets. However, once on the street, children in the UK are more likely to return home or to get help than street children from developing countries ^[14].

We can raise our voices to share the story of Michael with our friends and family and do all we can to make a difference to the lives of street children in Latin America and across the world. Here in the UK it is our duty and privilege to work together to bring about change and justice for street children.

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The Corridors of Power

To really make a sustainable and long term difference to street children, we need to not only provide immediate help for children like Michael, but to change high-level policies so that the plight of street children is addressed internationally.

The Department for International Development (DfID) spent £3.29 billion during financial year 2009. According to DfID’s accounts, only 1.47% of that was spent in Latin America ^[15].

Organisations like the Consortium for Street Children (of which Toybox is a member) are constantly in conversation with the government and various officials trying to bring the plight of street children into the national conscious. By writing to your local MP or signing petitions, you can help add your voice to these conversations. If enough of us raise our voices together, the Government will be forced to sit up and take notice.

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