An estimated 100 million children live and work on the streets in the developing world.
Most street children (75 percent) have some family links, but spend most of their lives on the streets begging, selling trinkets, shining shoes or washing cars to supplement their families' income. Most never go beyond a fourth-grade education.
The remaining 25 percent live in the streets, often in a group of other children. Known as "street children", they sleep in abandoned
buildings, under bridges, in doorways, or in public parks.
They often resort to petty theft and prostitution to survive. Most are addicted to inhalants, such as Rugby glue, which offers them an escape from reality, and takes away hunger -- in exchange for
a host of physical and psychological problems, including hallucinations, pulmonary edema, kidney failure, and irreversible brain damage. Many are
victims of abuse, sometimes murder, by police, other authorities and individuals who are supposed to protect them.
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by parents -often by step-parents-are the most common reasons why children leave their families. Psychologists and social workers refer to the problem as "family disintegration".
The social phenomenon of street children is increasing as the Third World population grows. In fact, the largest-ever global generation of children will be born in this decade. Four out of ten urban dwellers are expected to be under 18 years of ageby the year 2000. That number is expected to increase to six out of ten by 2025.
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Place: 1 out of 200 Avg (all users): 7.3960 Avg (commenters): 8.8800 Avg (participants): 7.3204 Avg (non-participants): 7.4747 Views since voting: 6288 Votes: 202 Comments: 44 Favorites: 23 (view)
What is mean? Would we rather all turn our eyes from the truth? Photojournalism at it's best. This is so poignant. I feel for this child and all the others he represents.
It makes me incredibly sad. I feel despair that I cannot help them.
i dont think that its mean to take a picture of a homeless person as long as the reason is genuinely to let the world know the harsh realities of what we do to our children. a ten for me gigi. congrats!
Congrats on the win Gigi, you found the real despair out there. I tried to give my shot a message too, but it is only staged. I feel highly shocked and deeply moved by looking on your picture. I know, that such living conditions are existing in the world, but such a photo brings that powerful back to my mind.
With your image and comments you have awakened many to the plight of the homeless in your country. You have done a great service with your image, much more than just winning a photo contest.
Congratulations. Yours was a well deserved win in this very difficult category. I was pleased that at lease two of the top three were voted for the category. This was tough because so many images were staged, but voters came through once again making the right choice.
Ms Gigi, Thank you for sharing that which is in your heart and i hope it will grow to help others as you go through your life.
Your new friend, - Mieka
Thanks you for appreciating my work, this is my first ribbon. I have started this hobby 2 months ago, and I am learning from all of you. This is my first ribbon and I am overwhelmed with the results, though my other photos are doing well in the past too. It gives me more inspiration to do my craft better.
Taking this shot is not so hard to do, but it hurts. At first it gave me the feeling of hesitant, coz I’m going inside the hideouts of the street children. Sidewalk vendor helps me get inside their place. It is so heart melting when I got inside. Bad odor, miserable places to live, but despite of who they are and what they do they are very friendly to me. Some of them are just being neglected by their parents and they result to inhaling shoe glue, which offers them an escape from reality, and takes away hunger. Many are victims of abuse, sometimes murder, by police, other authorities and individuals who are supposed to protect them. They survived by begging and scavenging. After my visit to this children,I bought them bread for them to feed, I know they need more than this. They need homes and they need love.
here are some of the shots which i took during this outtake.
congrats on a great shot... i think you have captured the essence of this challenge very well. This could easily be a national geographic photo... great work... = 10 - setzler
Oh man now this one is good... Finally. The only thing that takes away is the bright sun in the front-right. But that would be hard to avoid. Good one!!! First and only 9.
I'm not sure about the title - this kid is probably wondering where his next meal is going to come from. No complaints about the photo though, it's great.
This photo meets the challenge in ways that I don't like to see. I wish the whole world was happy, but this child may never get a chance to be. Thank you for sharing your corner of the world. I hope it gets better. 10
This photo just cries out "despair" and you have captured it well. It's a pity you cropped out his toe in this shot, it's the only point which bothers me here. I hope you gave him a few coins afterwards :-) 9 from me.
Dreams of having a house & family
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