Children of Brazilian Streets
The violence of poverty has claimed the lives of thousands of Brazilian children. Assessments suggest that between 7 and 8 million children, ages 5 to 18 live and/or work on the streets of urban Brazil.
The children on the streets are often either children who work on the
streets or children who ran away from home or were abused because the family is
unable to maintain normal family unity. The smallest group of street children
is the group of abandoned children. The reason why they were abandoned is
either because their parents died or simply because the family is unable to
look after them because of their family circumstances. It is said that 23% of
the children left home because of abuse.
Living on the streets is dangerous. The kids are subject to police
brutality - so called “Death Squads” - rape, violence and being forced into
prostitution. They have serious health problems and a way to escape and forget
life’s cruelty often makes children take drugs. An easily accessible way is to
sniff “glue”.
Viviane Moos is an award winning photojournalist. She spent time in
Brazil following children of the streets from 1991 to 1994. She gained the
children’s trust by spending several weeks together with them.
Viviane Moos
is currently making the ending of her story about the children. She has
returned to Brazil to follow up with those she knew and find out what further
happened to them.
To view her project, look here:
To read more about her story, go to:
Other info:
 |
"Here is one of my images representing the use of glue within child street gangs in Brazil."
"Secura is overcome by a sudden pain from the glue"
Comments
Post a Comment