ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on children and youths who live on the streets in Mwanza—the second biggest city in Tanzania. It reflects upon their individual stories about the traumatic circumstances of their daily existence. The reality street children in Mwanza face can be approached using artwork made by children and youths who live on the streets. These drawings enrich our understanding of the street children's life world. They are emotionally evocative and provide insight into the children's hopes and dreams. Most activities of everyday life such as working, playing, eating, sleeping or maintaining social relations occur here without the children having any kind of special protection or care. Only some of the children who spend time on the street are actually 'street children'. In academic literature a distinction is made between children who live on the street and those who earn money on the street for themselves and/or their families.
