Join Our Mailing List. Most children on the street, however, are those engaged in some kind of economic activity ranging from begging to petty theft and prostitution. The phenomenon of street children is an emerging social issue in Papua New Guinea. While walking through the shopping centres in Port Moresby and Lae, one might easily see children as young as 7 and 8 years of age either begging or vending or just simply wandering around aimlessly during school hours.
One wonders what the future holds for these young children and what does it mean for the nation as a whole? These children on the right seem to smile, be healthy, and have some good clothes; the question is, what are they doing during school hours? At times, the street children are verbally and physically abused by police, city commission workers and the general public. In fact, life is hard for them but they have to continue their daily routines for survival.
Sometimes, poor families force their children to become street workers to earn something. The young boy, who is sitting down, is selling betel nut to his friends who may be street children as well. A few church and non-governmental organizations like the Port Moresby Foursquare and the Port Moresby City Mission have provided some hope for the street children by providing food and giving them necessary technical skills in agricultural, mechanical, and other areas.
The national government through its department of community development has not addressed the issue in any tangible way. Clearly, there is a need for some kind of policy and action plan for the street children in PNG. To ignore them and do nothing is to ignore the children of PNG who have a claim to education, food, clothes, shelter, freedom and security. This picture shows young street venters selling cigarettes and betel nut at top-town, Lae.
Interestingly, what they sell is concealed inside their bags to avoid being confiscated by police and city commission workers. What does the future hold for current street children in Papua New Guinea? Will they be just street children who will be begging, selling and involved in petty crimes? They are certainly a threat to the nation.
