Photo: C. Fischer

No protection, hardly any money, and only the occasional warm meal: these are just a few of the problems faced by ca. 6,500 homeless minors in Germany, who only rarely choose a life on the streets of their own accord. In many cases, it is neglect, psychological or physical violence, or abuse that drive children away from their families and into homelessness. The Berlin-based organization Straßenkinder (in English: “Street Children”), founded in 2000, has opened a StreetWorkStatt (“StreetWorkShop”) that aims to help homeless children and youth. The organization’s rented rooms in Warschauer Street in Berlin house a clothing bank and a counselling office. Those who stop in can wash up, get a warm meal, and escape the hard life of the streets for a few hours.

“For many young homeless people in Berlin, the work of this organization is a last-resort escape from their precarious situation. The organization tries to reach young people and to bring them back in touch with society,” says Silvia Eller, project manager at SAGST.

“In this way we can help to get 50 or 60 young people off of the streets – permanently. Our main goal is to enable young homeless people to lead an independent, self-financed life”, said Eckhard Baumann, President of the Board of the organization.