Street and Working Children’s Participation in Programming for their Rights

Claire O’Kane
Butterflies Programme of Street and Working Children
Delhi, India

Citation: O’Kane, Claire. “Street and Working Children’s Participation in Programming for their Rights: Conflicts Arising from Diverse Perspectives and Directions for Convergence.” Children, Youth and Environments 13(1), Spring 2003. Retrieved [date] from http://colorado.edu/journals/cye.

Abstract

This paper draws conceptual and practical lessons from the experiences of Butterflies Programme of Street and Working Children in Delhi, India, within the historical and political framework of child rights-participation focused work in South Asia. It creates space for children's own experiences, perceptions, and concerns as a central component of child-focused development work. Empowering street and working children to reflect upon their experiences, articulate their views, plan effective programs and advocate for their own rights will enable them to challenge the status quo regarding children's place and power in society.

The lessons are relevant to current academic discourse on the social construction of childhoods and to debates concerning good development practice with marginalized children. Preparing adults to listen to children can help minimize conflicts that may arise when street children advocate for their own rights due to disparities in power and differing perceptions among stakeholders (e.g., parents, police, non-government organizations). The paper also advocates for strategic approaches that build upon children's self esteem and give them access to key decision-makers.

Keywords: India; empowerment of children; paradigms of childhood; street children