The Definition of Street Children

From the results of the research foundation Nanda (1996: 112) there are some general characteristics of street children among others: a. Being in public places (streets, markets, shops, places of entertainment) for 24 hours. b. Less educated (mostly school dropouts, and very few have passed the primary school). c. Derived from the families can not afford (mostly urban people, and some of it is not clear family). d. Conduct economic activities (to do the work in the informal sector).

Street children, usually come from families that work and weak economies. Street children grow and develop with the background of street life and familiar with poverty, persecution, loss and love, so burdensome life and make negative behavior.

They are living in the local city, in other cities nearby, or in other provinces. There are street children who live with her mother in a different city with a place to live because of his father's job, married again, or divorced. There are roads that are still children living with the family, who live separately but still often return to the place of family, that there is never live with their families or even children who do not know the family.

Activities Street Children
According to M. Ishaq (2000), there are three ketegori of street children, namely: (1) find satisfaction; (2) carry on living, and (3) immoral actions. The activities of street children is closely related to their mangkal day-to-day, that is, in the plaza, cinemas, road, cross the road, railway stations, terminals, markets, shops and malls.

Factors Causing Children Becoming Street Children
Circumstances city invite high street children. The densely populated city, and many families have problems that make children less nutrition, less attention, less education, less affection and warmth of life, and lose the right to play, cheer, socializes, and independent living, or even the removal of children persecuted mind, physical, and sexual abuse by family, friends, others more mature.

Among street children, some of which are often move between cities. They grow and develop with the background of street life and familiar with poverty, persecution, loss and love, so burdensome life and make negative behavior.

A child terhempas from his family, then become street children caused by many things. Treatment to children is a major cause children to become street children. Persecution that covers their mental and physical. Other than that, in general, street children come from families that the work is heavy and weak economies.

The social phenomenon of street children, especially visible in real big cities, especially after the economic crisis triggered in Indonesia since last five years. The Ministry of Social Affairs in 1998 in 12 large cities reported that the number of street children as many as 39,861 people and about 48% of the children down to the new road since 1998. Nationally it is estimated there are as many as 60,000 to 75,000 street children. DEPSOS noted that 60% of street children have dropped out of school (drop out) and 80% still have relationships with family, and as much as 18% of street children is women who face a high risk of sexual violence, rape, pregnancy outside marriage and infected Sexual Diseases ( STIs) and HIV / AIDS.

Generally, street children have almost no access to education services, health and protection. Their tend rejected by society and often raking (sweeping) by the local city government.
Indonesian