Morocco's street children live a difficult life, often filled with harmful drugs and crimes. Efforts to reintegrate them into families and schools are somewhat succesful but experts say the problem is large and it's root lies in poverty and difficult social circumstances .
Othmane left his home at the age of fourteen to live on the street .He no longer wanted to see his mother fight the daily battle to get bread for his five little siblings and pay for his school expences ."The street is not a better place to live in "Othmane says , "but at least she will not have to think about my daily living. In the meantime , I may be able help her. "Othmane carries bags of vegetebales and other purchases for customers at a nearby market .In this way ,He earns a few dirhams a day ,enough to bring a little money back home.
Othmane is one of the growing number of street children in morocco there are the homeless and marginazed youths without identity or family .The sidewalks , public gardens, and the buildings doorsteps are their beds .
In casablanca (City economic of Morocco ), these children's main residences are alleys in the old city, the port, the train station , and the fruits and vegetables wholesale markets. The port provides them with an apportuniy to emigrate illegally. The wholesale market gives them the chance to work as porters . At the train station they can earn little money from helping passengers or by begging from tourists .
According to the most recent statistics , 7.000 street children live in Casablanca willaya alone . 8.000 more live in other major cities such as Marrakech , Fes , and Meknes . The goverment and many non-govermental organisations have adopted a strategey of building centers to shelter some of these street children and reintegrate them into schools and families , but the chalange is enormous . The number usually exceeds the centres capasities ; there are not enough beds for all of them, and urgent is the need to act at once to save those children .