Street Subculture

Children's Livelihood Strategies for Surviving on the Streets of Addis Ababa

Abstract

This study explored the livelihood strategies children employ to survive on the streets of Addis Ababa. Street life demands children actively form social relationships with the public and their peers. Street subculture includes aspects of children’s creativity, organized to present their sufferings, elicit emotion from passersby, and sympathy from alms-givers. The street subculture also includes the entertainment strategies children use to secure their livelihood. The strong social bonds and supportive relationships that underlie the street subculture reflect children's solidarity. This study recommends that interventions aimed at improving the lives of street children should consider their needs, skills, and creativity.