Children of the Streets

It can be daunting at times to encounter a bevy of young children (who should be under ordinary circumstances similar to their privileged counterparts playing with toys or finishing their homeworks) out on the streets selling flowers, books, trinkets, or begging for money. These children of the streets (poignantly captured and glamourized in Slumdog Millionaire) are, without a doubt, as street smart and savvy as they are robbed of childhood memories typical of your and mine. From an even younger age, most of these children are forced to earn their own and their families' livelihoods. Whether by begging or through selling trinkets, they are expected to return home with enough cash to guarantee some food in their bellies and another day of looking forward to the same challenges again. Let us not also forget that most of these kids who go home to their families at the end of the day are generally regarded as the fortunate ones. Oftentimes, you hear of horrific tales of young children being pimped out to lecherous clients for sex. With all of these harrowing and life-threatending prospects engulfing them each day, it is always a surprise and a relief to encounter these young urchins offering flowers with huge toothy grins and words of encouragment to buy.