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INTENTION : |
That children who are victims of abandoment or violence may find the love and protection they need.
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Children's sufferings will always seem cruel and unjust, but in this commentary on the Pope's intention for this month we shall try to direct our attention towards just one of its manifestations, probably the worst: an alarming and growing phenomenon in our society. This is the terrible reality of street children.
UNICEF defines street children as those that are forced to work in the streets to earn money for their families and children who have no family and who are forced to sleep on the street. Such children are the poorest of the poor, most vulnerable and pushed around by their poverty in a world of violence, hunger and abuse. In order to survive, most of these children have to work 10 hours a day. They sell newspapers, wash taxis, collect junk, push carts, watch over parking cars, sell candy, carry luggage or simply beg. Some work in prostitution, drug carriers or pickpockets. Still some do some cleaning jobs or in agriculture. They sleep where they feel more secure: outside the doors of stores, over a sidewalk heating system, next to a small fire by the beach or on the steps of an underground railway. Some choose to sleep during the day because they consider it safer. Some may sleep alone, while others prefer to huddle together. Their bed often is just a cardboard box, an old blanket or simply newspapers. If they are lucky to own a pair of shoes, they take them off and use them as pillow for their heads and a safety precaution against thieves. If they have a few extra coins, some will keep them in their mouths. Such children will not be surprised if they are awakened by a policeman's kick, by the cold water of a passing city cleaning truck or even by the happy-go-lucky fire arms of security officials. They eat whatever they can pick up, as most of them are undernourished: their hair and facial looks clearly show their deficiency in vitamins and healthy food. Since they lack sufficient money, they search for left-over eatables inside garbage containers and outside grocery stores and restaurants - and, as an ultimate resource, they steal inside stores.
Claudio Barriga, SJ
Director-General Delegte
Apostleship of Prayer
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