In most countries there are street children, the cities of the UK are no different with children running away in search of a better life that is rarely realised. In Malawi children take to the streets because of poverty at home, family breakdown and HIV/AIDS which has left an estimated 1.2 million children in Malawi as orphans.

But the streets of the capital Lilongwe are not paved in anything but further poverty, save for the large numbers of government and humanitarian aid workers who live there. These children are at risk of exploitation through poverty, disease, lack of education and life prospects, but more odiously they are at risk of sexual exploitation as the above short video evidences.

One of the many difficulties working with street kids in Malawi is that many do not have homes to return to, or refuse because of violent relationships with their step-fathers, or the simple truth that whilst life on the streets is harsh, it is sometimes less harsh than life at home and begging can reap more rewards that hard toil on the land. You can make a difference to the street kids of Malawi by getting involved with charities such as www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk who work with children there providing homes, emotional support and education.