More than 1/5 of the world’s 6 billion population are children , 85% of whom are living in developing countries. In the Philippines, children constitute 43% of the population, and are affected by the worsening poverty.
Street children have become a familiar sight in the streets in the country. Their number has rapidly increased since the early 1970s when the problem was first noticed and has grown to alarming proportions.
lAccording to experts a street child is one who is 15 years old and below and spends a significant amount of time on the streets. (Some experts have raised the upper limit to 16 years).
lA child above 15 years has also needs and may be as vulnerable if not more so but the child 15 years and below is much more vulnerable because according to legal authorities and experts he is still below the age of discernment, that is below the age of knowing what is right or what is wrong in the legal sense. Therefore, they are at the higher risk.
