Getting to street kids before the streets get to them
by Rebecca Klug

A man called David happened to be passing through Mumbai on his way home to the UK. He'd been in Australia on business and decided to stop off there for a couple of days. He was excited and fascinated by the colours, sounds and experiences that India presented to him, but like so many other visitors to the subcontinent, saddened by the poverty he saw all around.

One day he was passing by the main station in Mumbai and a small child came up to him. She started beating herself to get his sympathy - and this saddened and shocked him more than anything.

An experience that many of us who have been to India can associate with….and a fantastic thing happened! David became curious about this young girl and began to think about how he could help her and the many many others like her.

He came back home, and began to find out about children who live on the streets. He learnt a lot, working for existing organisations. He found out that street children often naturally live around railway and bus stations.

He went on to found ‘Railway Children’—a charity whose aims are to support children living alone and at risk on the streets. Children arrive alone at railway and bus stations for many reasons. They are escaping violence or abuse; they are forced there through extreme poverty or have been abandoned or orphaned.

From the moment they reach the platform the children are grave danger.

The reality is pimps, drug peddlers and recruiters for child labour know these children are vulnerable and see them as a valuable commodity to be used and abused.

In addition to providing the shelter, food, clothing, education and healthcare that are all essential to the child's wellbeing and giving them back their childhood, Railway Children's ultimate goal is to intervene with a child at the earliest opportunity before an abuser can. And if it's the right thing for the child, reunite them with their family.

And it's not just in India that Railway Children work. There are projects in Kenya and Tanzania - and a growing presence in the UK: did you know there are 100,000 runaways under 16 in the UK every year? - and shockingly, many of them end up off the radar.

Railway Children's work is all about getting to street kids before the streets get to them.

You can find out more and read stories of the children here: www.railwaychildren.org.uk

And you can help these street kids in so many ways - you can make a one-off or regular donation; take part in sponsored events such as the unique
3 Peaks—by rail; or simply go to http://www.railwaychildren-friends.com/ and make that your home page!

Rebecca Brenda Klug, a recent participant in Sue's NLP Intensive in Kerala, is a trustee of Railway Children, and would be delighted to talk to you more about the work that Railway Children do.
She can be contacted at rebecca@glynwood.net