Street-connected children are those for whom the street plays a central role in their daily lives and identity. Laughter Africa focuses on children who live permanently on the streets, a diverse group ranging in age, gender, and ability.
Why Children Turn to the Streets
- Push factors: Poverty, family breakdown, abuse, neglect, war, natural disasters, forced marriage, FGM, parental death, substance abuse in the family, HIV/AIDS, and child labor.
- Pull factors: Desire for freedom, financial independence, peer pressure, city allure, or the excitement of street life.
Challenges of Street Life
Street life is dangerous and often traumatic. Children face:
- Violence from adults, authorities, and older street children
- Sexual abuse, rape, and child trafficking
- Substance use as a coping mechanism (glue in some countries, marijuana and tramadol in Sierra Leone)
- Risk of HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, and commercial sex work
- Loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, and extreme hardship
Despite these dangers, street children show remarkable resilience, resourcefulness, and courage, surviving and adapting to life under some of the toughest conditions imaginable.
Survivors, Not Victims
Laughter Africa sees every street child as a survivor with unique strengths, aspirations, and potential. Through care, support, and opportunities, we aim to help them move toward safety, stability, and a brighter future.
