Street children seek escape on the streets

JAKARTA (JP): Childhood is supposed to be the best time of our lives, when we get to wallow in the unconditional love of those around us, spend long days having fun and think nothing of the stresses of adulthood lying ahead.

Try telling that to Satriadi, 13, Reza, 12, and Deri, 15, whose young lives are marked by a daily struggle to survive.

They are part of the estimated 6,000 street children in the capital, who frequent busy streets and public facilities as newspaper vendors, singers, shoe-shine boys and laborers.

Satriadi left his family's home in Cakung, East Jakarta, to sing on the streets when he was seven.

"I felt I was only a burden to my parents," he said.

Reza, also a singer, ran away from Semarang, Central Java, two weeks ago because he could no longer stand his stepfather's abuse.

Deri also moved out of his family home six months ago after arguing with his stepfather.

Social worker Tasja, who supervises an shelter for boys in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, said it was more difficult to rehabilitate street children, especially those who came from broken homes, because of the stereotype lumped on them.

He said many people, including those working for social rehabilitation institutions and orphanages, believed street children were willfully violent, disobedient and had drug habits.

"Please, don't blame the children. Living on the streets changes them into different people. But none of the children ever dreamed of being one. They are just unlucky."

Tasja's colleague Benny said most street children who remained in the family home usually worked as newspaper or snack vendors before or after school.

Ones who have left their families sing, beg, eat, play and sleep under the sky, he added.

Stereotypes

Benny said street children from broken homes like Satriadi and Reza were among about 50 regular visitors to the shelter.

Unfortunately, they are more likely to conform to the commonly held stereotypes of the kids.

Satriadi started to smoke, take drugs and sniff glue when he began to live permanently on the streets.

"I still smoke about one pack a day now but take less Nipam (cheap barbiturates) pills since I entered the shelter about a month ago. I used to take two to three strips (each contain 10 pills) a day."

Satriadi said he regularly bought a particular brand of glue for about Rp 3,000 and craved the high of sniffing it in the morning.

"I can still sing even when I am stoned. But yeah, I must walk unsteadily," said Satriadi who earns about Rp 5,000 a day from singing on the buses in the greater Jakarta area.

The street children's frequent use of obscenities tells the story of their harsh lives.

Benny said most of the children often spoke about sex and some boasted they had slept with their girlfriends.

"But I'm not sure whether it is really intercourse," he said.

Deri, who sings with one or two friends on buses or at traffic lights and often sleeps near Jakarta Theater in Central Jakarta at night, said some of the street children had engaged in sex.

"But don't ask me about it. I won't tell you. Sex is a personal thing, don't you agree?"

He said he tried to save some money for his future and hope to be able to return to school one day.

"I don't want to be like this forever. Many of us may seem not to care about having a better life. But, believe me, we all do."

Both Tasja and Benny said street children had to go it alone if they wanted to get themselves off the streets.

"They have to make it on their own because it seems that many people prefer to deal with orphans and handicapped children rather than street children due to the latter's stereotyped image." (cst)