Indonesia is generally poor with the majority of people living in, or close to serious poverty. Children can easily be found living, sleeping and begging on the streets of Kuta or Denpasar. There are many reasons for this happening. Extreme poverty finds their parents pushing them to the street, sometimes abusive adults at home are unbearable, their parents die, parents (and leaders) want an easier life, etc.
The children have little or no schooling, can not read, fall victim to abuse (whether from a parent, the police, or other persons), have difficult and painful lives, do not learn healthy habits or skills, and, may become sex workers. Hunger, thirst and dirty clothing are normal for them. They work long hours on street corners in the sun, walk the streets or beach selling fruit or just begging. Late at night they mix with prostitutes and foreigners around bars and discotheques.
The children are usually 'owned' by a boss; an adult who takes their earnings in exchange for a small space on the floor to sleep. Some bosses wear gold jewelry. Bosses typically dont have a job, other than managing their children, requiring them to work up to 11 hrs, night until 6am. If a child does not bring back enough earnings, they cannot come 'home'. Physical violence against the children is common.
Interviews with teenage girls (age 13 or older), tells of after their many years on the streets, now are wanting the 'big' money from prostitution. Most cannot read, and have no understanding of sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, or avoiding pregnancy (HIV rates among sex workers here is now about 20%).
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