They fear we are thieves, added his companion. But now there is a new initiative to help such children - street education. It differs from rescue programmes in not seeing children as the problem. Nor does it regard the removal of children from their environment as necessary or desirable. Taking control Inspired by the work of Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire, street educators work in the most deprived city areas to empower children by helping them discover their own worth, and to value each other.
Crime plunges both children and communities into general degeneration and violence.
It deprives children of community support. No questions are asked. The educators live in or near the slums where they work, establishing themselves as a reliable adult presence. They intervene directly in immediate danger, approaching feared local gangs and police stations, or ensuring that children get medical treatment. Their role is to help children understand the consequences of their actions and to take responsibility for themselves.