Street urchins<\/p>\n
The three articles about street urchins in the Sunday edition
\nof The Jakarta Post really moved me. I pity those children who at
\nsuch a very young age have to live off the streets and endure the
\nhardships, injustices, treacheries and all the other agonies of
\nsuch a life.<\/p>\n
Living as street urchins has made them truly independent of
\nanyone as they have to face all their problems -- the hunger, the
\nfears and the injustices -- all by themselves. This kind of
\nexperience molds their psyche and they grow up learning from the
\nlessons which their environment has taught them. They are not the
\nones to blame if later on they become mean and tough because even
\nas children they were never or seldom treated with kindness.<\/p>\n
What makes me feel uneasy is the way security officers are
\nreported to be treating those children. They are chased around,
\ndetained and beaten and the wares they sell are confiscated. The
\nsecurity officers are not the ones they turn to whenever they are
\nin trouble, the urchins are not likely to ask for protection when
\nthey are threatened or request a place to hide when they are
\npursued.<\/p>\n
My highest regard to all the social workers who are devoting
\ntheir attention to look after these children. I admire the way
\nthose who run the open houses are treating them, accepting them
\nas they are. The children are not forced or coerced to live
\naccording to their mentors' wishes.<\/p>\n
Could I have the addresses of those homes? I will make it a
\npoint to visit them when I get to be in Bandung.<\/p>\n
MARIA FELISIA<\/p>\n
Padang, West Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/street-urchins-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }