Street Children

All over the world, children living on the street are the most vulnerable part of society. After the Gulf War in 1991, and under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the number of street children in Iraq increased, and although it is currently better in the Kurdish region, history has repeated itself following the most recent war.   KSC initiated a program in 1995, to help and support those children, who for one reason or another ended up on the streets.

The aim is to provide a safe environment and social welfare, and if possible to reunite them with their families. So far over 1,070 street children have been helped (1,034 males and 39 females). These cases also include some children from outside Iraqi Kurdistan, for example neighbouring Iran.   We have Children’s Homes providing basic needs - shelter, food, medical and social care. Many suffer from drug addiction when they come to us and in those cases we can offer professional counselling and rehabilitation. Others may have become petty criminals. At the Home there is a professional, caring staff, and the chance of regaining some sort of normality. Generally they stay with us for about three to six months before they are reunited with their families. When a child leaves, KSC personnel follow up the case to support or help solve any problems that might arise in the new situation.   In 2003 the number of homeless children decreased considerably in the Kurdish region in and around Sulaimaniya, and because of the improved situation both Children’s Homes there, were closed down. However, due to the current situation in other parts of Iraq we have recently opened a new place in Baghdad and another in Kirkuk.