Home > Projects and Programs > Education and Literacy > Rescuing Street Children

Rescuing Street Children

Life is short and brutish for the  children who are in a daily struggle for survival on the streets of Jhenidah, Bangladesh.

Violence, exploitation, and hunger are the hallmarks of life for an estimated 300 street children who roam the roads and alleys of Jhenidah district in Bangladesh.

A normal childhood, as we would define it, is not an option for these children - some of whom are as young as eight years old. Their terrible circumstances dictate that they must do anything they can to survive another day. Their “normal” is a cycle of physical and emotional exploitation at the hands of drug dealers and other unsavory characters who rule the streets of Jhenidah.

HOPE International Development Agency is working with Bengalis who are helping the street children of Jhenidah free themselves from the exploitation that has made their lives a living nightmare. The degree of exploitation these children have experienced is painfully evident. The biggest challenge our Bengali workers face is building trust with children who’ve come to view adults as a source of pain and misery.

Shelter, nutritious food, and clothing give the children, nearly all of whom have no shoes, no safe place to sleep, and little or no daily food, a sense of belonging and stability.

Health care is one of the most important aspects of our efforts to help these children transform their lives and build a future full of promise.

Street children are vulnerable to a variety of diseases, many of which are fatal if not prevented or treated properly. Children receive primary health care on a day-to-day basis, as well as a bi-monthly check-up, annual basic eye examinations, medicine, treatment for ailments such as fever, diarrhea, cough, stomach pain, scabies, and referrals to health institutions. Health education and disease prevention are also provided, helping children learn the basics of personal hygiene that children in the developed world simply take for granted.

Dental care is unheard of for these children. Those that attempt to clean their teeth use a piece of coal, ashes, or just their dirty fingers.  Dental hygiene education, dental care, and regular check-ups are all part of our efforts.

Basic education is well beyond the reach of Jhenidah’s street children. Yet without it, they are destined to remain on the streets. We are providing a basic education in Bangla (the local language), English, and mathematics.

Life-skills training has a key role to play in ensuring that these former street children learn new skills that will eventually lead to a life full of productivity and promise. Our efforts are focused on skills training programs that will enable the children to become successful young people and adults.

The prospects are promising for children who are given shelter, clothes, nutritious food, and all of the opportunities offered in order to help them transform their lives.