Coping Strategies of Street Children

Abstract

Street children are usually failures and drop outs at school, but their skill and creativity in surviving and entertaining themselves in the streets show that they do not lack intellig ence. Most of them will admit that they have felt the lack of an adult "model" and their aggression and gang style are born out of the necessity to cope. Teachers and adults in general see only the negative side of their behaviour. What is needed is to build on the positive aspects. A successful program of dealing with such children is described; the focus is on personality develop ment. The program has to fit the child-not the child the program. The adult has to prove unwilling to accept aggression from a child or between children. Firmness has to be combined with caring and personal interest, and it is essential to provide interesting activities.