Discussion Guide for
A Day on the Street After viewing “A Day on the Streets,” use this guide to research the plight of street children around the world, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.
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“ A BO UT 2 ,5 00 C HILDR EN IN GEO R GIA have turned to the street to earn money
either by begging or prostituting themselves. They are extremely vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse. Life on the streets frequently steers children toward alcohol and drug addiction. Often, their parents are prostitutes, alcoholics, or drug addicts.” (Source:
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UNICEF) NO O NE K N O WS HO W MA NY ST R EET C HILDR EN there are in the world.
The exact number of street children is impossible to quantify, but the figure almost certainly runs into the tens of millions across the world. It is likely that these numbers are increasing. (Source: Consortium for Street Children, State of the World’s Street Children: Violence, 2007)
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S T R E E T C H ILDR EN A R E A MO NG T HE MO ST PHY SIC A LLY V ISI BLE of all
children, living and working on the roads and in the public squares of cities all over the world. Yet paradoxically, they are also among the most “invisible” children, therefore hardest to reach with vital services such as education and healthcare and the most difficult to protect. (Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible) IN P R A C T IC E, EV ERY C IT Y IN T HE WO R LD has some street children, including the biggest and richest cities of the industrialized world. (Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible) M O S T S T R EET C HILDR EN A R E NO T O R PHA NS. Many are still in contact
with their families, and they work on the streets to augment the household income. Many others have run away from home, often in response to psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. The majority are male, as girls seem to endure abusive or exploitative situations at home for longer—though once they do leave their home and family, girls are generally less likely to return. (Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible)
Reflect IM A GINE L IF E IN A N ENV IR O NMENT where violence, poverty, and uncertainty
prevail, and where love, affection, and counsel are absent. How would these circumstances affect your outlook on life and subsequent actions?
W H AT W O UL D GIV E Y O U HO PE and a desire to get off the streets?
W H AT P R O B L E M T HAT K A K HELO , B O RYA , A ND GIO R GI face resonates most with
you? What do you take for granted that street children struggle with on a daily basis?
IN T HE V IDE O , O N E MA N LEC T UR ES T HE B O Y S FO R ST EA LING, another woman
closes her doors to them, and another seeks to adopt Kakhelo. How do you react to those who beg on the street?
A F T E R V IE W ING T HE V IDEO , HA S Y O UR AT T IT UDE C HA NGED toward those
who are homeless?
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Recall A C C O R DING T O THE World Health Organization, “Every street child has a reason for
being on the street. Street children are the casualties of economic growth, war, poverty, loss of traditional values, domestic violence, [and] physical and mental abuse.” Which of these reasons caused the boys in the video to take to the streets, and how has it scarred them emotionally?
T H E BO Y S IN T H E V IDEO were able to earn as much money begging as they would
working as municipal civil servants. Despite their ability to survive day-to-day as beggars, why is money not the only thing these boys need? What aspects of street life threaten them physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
K A K H E L O IS INT E LLIGENT — the “best and brightest”—according to the narrator. But
what sort of future can Kakhelo, Borya, and Giorgi anticipate if someone does not promptly intervene to help them leave the streets? What illegal or harmful activities do street children often turn to?
T H E BO Y S IN T H E V IDEO , while endearing, are demonstrating that they lack a complete
“moral compass.” At times, they become suddenly and frighteningly violent. How does this color society’s view of them, and how do passersby or shopkeepers typically respond?
Respond K A K H E L O ’S M O T HER T O LD HIM he was not her son and left him, and Kakhelo’s father
subsequently turned to drinking and stopped caring about him. Kakhelo cries when he thinks about his grandparents, however, because he misses them. What do many street children have in common with regard to their families? How important is the way parents raise their children? In what ways could we address this source of the problem to prevent children from fleeing to the streets?
S T R E E T C H IL DR E N O FT EN B EC O ME “A DDIC T ED T O FR EEDO M” and choose to
stay on the streets rather than live a more structured, disciplined, and safe life. Their friends become like “battlefield comrades.” How should we work with children who are already on the streets, and what could be difficult about changing their attitudes? Should we focus more on getting children off the streets, or on preventing them from considering the streets as a lifestyle in the first place? Explain your answer. PA G E 3 O F 6
A C C O R DING T O THE V IDEO , the solution to freeing children from the streets lies in
opening hearts in society. What does this mean, and how could it be done?
Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:
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P R AY F O R C HILDR EN who are living on the streets and pray against the forces that
keep them there. S P O N S O R A C HILD IN NEED T HR O UGH WO R LD V ISIO N. For just about
a dollar a day, you’ll provide your sponsored child with access to basics they need to survive and thrive, such as clean water, healthcare, education, and improved nutrition. Your donation can make a world of difference to one child by providing him or her with desperately needed physical and spiritual nurture, along with hope for a brighter future. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on the “sponsor a child” icon. B E C O M E IN FO R MED. Read articles and publications about issues related to street
children on the Internet and in newspapers, magazines, and books. Learn how urban ministries are growing all over the world and what methods they have found to be effective. B E C O M E A N A DV O C AT E. Mobilize your church or youth group to raise money or
get involved in helping street children in your town. V IS IT W W W.WO R LDV ISIO NR ESO UR C ES.C O M and click on “programs and
events” to find out how you can raise awareness and offer tangible help for children facing the streets.
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T H O UGH M Y FAT HER A ND MO T HER FO R SA K E ME, the Lord will receive me.
—Psalm 27:10
AT T H AT T IME T HE DISC IPLES C A ME T O J ESUS A ND A SK ED, “Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” —Matthew 18:1-5
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I S E E V IO L ENC E A ND ST R IFE IN T HE C IT Y. Day and night they prowl about
on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. —Psalm 55:9-11 HE W IL L DEFEND T HE A FFLIC T ED A MO NG T HE PEO PLE and save the
children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. —Psalm 72:4 “ F O R I WA S HUNGRY A ND Y O U GAV E ME SO MET HING T O EAT, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” —Matthew 25:35-36, 40
Rely PRAY THAT:
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GO D W IL L MULT IPLY T HE EFFO RT S O F PEO PLE and organizations working to
overcome the forces that drive children to the streets, bringing long-term change. C H IL DR E N LIV ING O N T HE ST R EET S WILL FIND SO MEO NE who celebrates
the fact that they exist and lets them know that God loves them. GO D W IL L CO NV IC T PA R ENT S, LEGISLAT O R S, A ND B Y STA NDERS to
protect children from the harmful forces on the streets, and that He will open your eyes to the ways He wants to use you.
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About World Vision W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
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