Turkey’s big cities home to thousands of working children

Rain, mud, extreme cold or heat, nothing stops them from working. These children, some of whom infrequently attend school and others who never go to school, are exposed to many dangers while working on the street, including drug addiction and sexual abuse. What's more, the actual number of children working on the streets of Turkey, whom you might see selling tissues or water as you pass by in your car or on foot, is much higher than many assume. According to official figures, there are at least 40,000 children working on the streets. But unofficial statistics point to the possibility that the real number may actually be twice as high. The street children generally move to large cities with their families, which are on a quest for a life better than that in rural areas. Because of the hard work and insufficient nutrition that mark their lives, these children are generally smaller and more frail than others their age.

Cemal A. is a 12-year-old boy who has had to work on the streets since he was very young. One of nine children born to a family from Siirt, Cemal has worked a variety of jobs, from selling water on the street to working as an apprentice at an industrial site. Cemal says his hardest job was working as an industrial apprentice and notes that his young age has meant that he never earns very much doing this sort of job. He says this is the reason he sees selling small things -- like water or even socks -- on the street as more profitable for him. Cemal notes that, like his other brothers and sisters, he turns all the money he earns on the streets over to his father. He also notes that he has not attended school since he was 8 years old.

Muammer F. is another child who works on the street, though he does go to school in the morning. For many years now, Muammer has worked in a clothing factory, and when he is officially “off,” on Sundays, he works in the open market. He explains: “Ever since I can remember, I have always worked during holidays. Since sales are good then, I work extra hard.”

Faruk Ş. is only 13 years old, but he works in a flag-making factory. He moved to İstanbul from Erzurum with his family when he was just 9, and now he works on weekday afternoons and weekends at the flag-making factory. Despite many hours of work, Faruk makes only TL 150 a month. He notes that he is making more money now than he was before and because he is making more money, his family won't let him stop working.

 There are children who work under even more difficult conditions than Faruk. There is, for example, 13-year-old Tahsin K., who worked at construction sites, but says his load there was so difficult that he gave up those jobs and now works cleaning shoes. Tahsin says he actually makes more money now on the streets and that he moves from district to district looking for customers.

No dreams for the future

Most children, when asked, will tell you what they dream of being in the future, when they “grow up.” The answers are often things like, “Well, I'm going to be a doctor, a teacher, a pilot…” But the children working on the streets have no such dreams. Most of them never even have the opportunity to continue school past the elementary level. These are children whose fathers generally don't have steady jobs either. Muharrem T. explains that his father works when he can find a job, but that it is usually him and his siblings who support their household. Muharrem spends his days shining shoes and notes that sometimes he can make anywhere between TL 25-50 a day, and even more on very good days.

Hands stained by shoe polish play violin and cello

A new pilot program has been started in the hopes of seeing children forced to work on the street for a living rescued from this fate and allowed the opportunity to have the same education that their counterparts receive. This new program is being implemented in Turkish cities where the population of people who have migrated from rural provinces is large, such as in Bursa, İstanbul and Ankara.

 The Sultanbeyli Children and Youth Center, opened as a result of efforts by the İstanbul Municipality and the Sultanbeyli Municipality, is part of the this pilot program, which is supported by the European Union. Families are being convinced to allow their children to attend this center, and at the center, the children themselves are being “rehabilitated” and encouraged to re-join society.

 The children who come to this center are taught about many things, from sports to computer courses. And perhaps the most important topic of education at this center is music. Private instructors are busy teaching children whose hands are still stained by shoe polish how to pick up bows and play instruments such as the violin and the cello.