Sreynet's Story

Sreynet, ten, has lived on the streets in Cambodia all her life. She lives next to a busy crossroads with her mother and two-year-old stepsister. Each morning, Sreynet crosses the road to buy a bowl of noodle soup. She shares it with her sister, then their mother eats what’s left. After breakfast, the two girls go to the park to beg.

Living on the street, children like Sreynet are effectively ignored by society. They have little say in deciding their future and few opportunities to express their feelings and concerns to people with the power to help. They therefore risk being hurt, exploited or treated unfairly – they are left to suffer in silence.

Sreynet's mother has always lived on the streets. She didn't go to school and has no job, and she worries about her children's future. Millions of children, like Sreynet and her mother, live on the streets around the world. Many of them are not registered at birth, making it harder for them to claim their rights, for example, to shelter, health care and education.

All children, no matter who they are or where they are from, have the right to a place in society and a voice in matters that affect them. Thanks to a UNICEF-supported drop-in centre, Sreynet has taken part in a school-readiness programme and has now joined her local primary school.

At the drop-in centre, children are encouraged to speak about the things that are important to them, so that staff can offer them the right care, protection and support. The children are then more able to play an active part in their own future. Outreach teams provide street children with basic health care and advice, and encourage them to attend an educational and vocational training centre.

Thanks to the centre, Sreynet and many other street children are now being listened to. “My favourite subject at school is Khmer language, because I love to read and write.” School gives Sreynet a safe place to express herself, gain confidence, interact with other children and develop as a person.

Giving children like Sreynet a voice means enabling them to develop an informed opinion, question and challenge things, and speak out effectively. UNICEF works to ensure that all children have a safe space to develop as a person and express their views. This gives them a better chance of lifting themselves out of poverty.

Sreynet’s right to be heard now has a better chance of being met, but the voices of street children around the world are still ignored. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. We need your support to ensure every child can be heard. Denying a child’s right to be heard is wrong. Please help us put it right for children like Sreynet.

Put it Right: Sreynet's story

09/11/2010