Frequently Asked Questions about Street Children
1. What does the term “street children” mean?
The terms “street children” and “street-connected children” can be used interchangeably. Street children are children that depend on the street for their survival – living there, working there, and/or finding human connections there. Their lives on the street are without the care or protection of their parents. In Congo, the term “what is a term used for street children.
​2. How many street children does the DR Congo have?
The precise number is unknown. In 2017, the best estimate for the country as a whole was 70,000+ street children. The number has exploded since then. In Lubumbashi, where Congo Children Trust’s partner Kimbilio is based, there are certainly upward of 5000 street children. Our hunch is that the true number is much, much larger.
3. Why are there so many street children in the DRC?
There are many reasons why children end up on the streets. Extreme economic poverty, beyond what most of us can imagine, is one cause. Broken homes, often in conjunction with poverty, are another. Orphans can find themselves on the street. In Congo, it is not uncommon for street children to have been rejected by their families in conjunction with accusations of witchcraft. Additionally, DR Congo suffers from a painfully large number of displaced persons, including children, as a result of civil strife in the eastern part of the country. In Haut-Katanga Province, where our partner Kimbilio operates, the economy is largely based on mining Here, there are street children that have been trafficked for slave labor purposes as well as street children working of their own or their families’ volition in artisanal mining.
4. Do street children in Lubumbashi go to school?
Rarely if ever. These children are the poorest of the poor. At our partner Kimbilio, the former street children residing at Kimbilio’s homes do get to attend primary and secondary school. But the street children who reside on the streets do not.
5. What challenges do children in the DRC face?
Children in the DRC face multiple challenges, including hunger; rape, prostitution and other forms of violence; having to labor in mines; inadequate access to education; lack of medical care, and societal issues like accusations of witchcraft.
6. What is artisanal cobalt mining, and what problems does it pose for children?
Artisanal mining involves men, women, and children working in hazardous conditions with minimal tools or protective gear. The DRC produces 70% of the world's cobalt, essential for rechargeable batteries, and artisanal mining is prevalent in mining regions such as where Congo Children Trust’s partner Kimbilio operates. Artisanal mining is an important industry in many countries from the standpoint of enabling people to earn livelihoods. However, when it is not properly regulated, it is marred by human rights abuses, including child labor, dangerous working conditions, and exploitation. Approximately 40,000 children work in mines in southern DR Congo.
7. What are good resources for learning more about the struggles of street children in the DR Congo?
There are numerous nonprofits that shed light on the struggles of children including street children, and work to improve their situations worldwide. The DR Congo is one of numerous countries where they are active. A few of them are:
8. What impact has the Congo Children Trust made so far?
Since its inception in 2009, the Congo Children Trust has supported over 7,000 children annually. They have established primary schools, vocational training centers, and reunified many children with their families, creating a significant positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children in Lubumbashi.
