In the timeless tale of Aladdin, the streets of Agrabah are bustling with life, but among the lively crowd, there lies a darker secret– the story of children on the street branded as thieves. Much like the fictional city of Agrabah, real-life streets across the world witness the struggles and trials of children on the streets who are often labeled as thieves due to their circumstances. However, beyond misconceptions, fears and unjust beliefs, lies a deeper truth that demands attention and empathy.

It is important to note that the perception of majority of people towards children on the street has been shaped by the activities the children have been involved in as a result of the need to survive or other factors they are exposed to. The issue of children living and working on the streets comes with various accidental causes which they know nothing about. Poverty, family breakdown, abuse, neglect, and lack of access to education are just a few factors that contribute to children finding themselves in such situations. For many of these children, the streets become their only means of survival, as they struggle with hunger, homelessness, and the absence of caring family and friends. In many societies, the sight of children roaming the streets arouses suspicion and fear, fueling the belief that they are criminals. However, the reality is far more difficult . These children are often victims of systemic failures especially the poverty in the society, neglected by authorities, abandoned by citizens and denied access to education and basic necessities. Instead of being labeled as thieves, they should be seen as victims of a broken system that fails to protect its most vulnerable members. Poverty is not necessarily related to criminality.

It's good to note that these children are often victims themselves, trapped in a cycle of poverty and mistakes of their parents and the society at large. Instead of calling them criminals and being scared of them, society must address the root of their suffering and work towards providing them with the necessary support and resources to save them and treat them like the children that they are. Education plays an important role in this situations.

And the society at large, instead of labeling and tagging every child not dressed expensively and living on the street as a criminal or thief. They should see these children as victims of circumstances and an unconcerned society. One person can begin the change, enlighten another person and that way, the string of truth will continue. There are no lamps in sight if the change doesn't start now and if the society remains unconcerned. 

In conclusion, the portrayal of children on the street as thieves is a dirty belief that fails to acknowledge the difficulties of their lives. Just as Aladdin's story is one of hard work and redemption, so too are the stories of real-life children on the street who deserve to be heard and helped. It is time to shine a light on their struggles and work towards building a world where no child is left behind in the shadows of society.

Atsu Elizabeth,

For Advocacy department, Street Priests