Street Action - Committed to street children through action and partnership

“I sometimes think that maybe if I had parents that loved and cared for me I wouldn’t have this disease. I sometimes blame myself for my situation.” Street child in South Africa talking about HIV/AIDS.

There are still millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS who remain outside the net of prevention, treatment, care and support. It is important to tackle the human rights abuses and social stigma that is keeping them in this position. UNICEF in 2010 predicted that there would be around 3-4 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. These figures come with a vastly increased risk of poverty, homelessness, school dropout, discrimination and loss of life opportunities. Street Action is committed to supporting our partners’ work in Burundi, Kenya and South Africa, all working with street children who are at a high level of risk of HIV/AIDS.

In February 2011, Street Action launched Including Street Children: A Situational Analysis of Street Children in Durban' written by Glynis Clacherty and Joe Walker. The report was jointly published with the Centre for African Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies. The research was a partnership with Umthombo Street Children, Street Action and the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID).

Part of the study aimed to provide objective data regarding the health and well-being of children living on the streets of Durban; to describe their experiences of that life; and to describe the range of services directed at them. The project intended to provide insights and perspectives that, if not exhaustive, could update and better guide responses and services to these children as well as understand the affect that HIV/AIDS was having on the streets.

The report stated, “We don’t know enough about the impact of HIV/AIDS on street children and very little research has been done on the issue.” More research can only be good for street children. Being involved in research is certainly a way of protecting and promoting street children’s rights but also ensuring that they have a voice and no longer become the hidden face of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

To find out about the Including Street Children research project click here.

You can support our partners to protect street children from HIV/AIDS by donating online to: http://www.justgiving.com/streetaction/donate