The Current Conditions of Street Life in Argentina

Essay written in October, 2001

“Because of the economic crisis in our country, we are reminded of the fact that we are Latin Americans,” an Argentinian commented referring to the severe depression that Argentina has suffered for more than 10 years. The old myth that Argentina was different from other countries in the region due to its more Europeanised culture has been debunked and even more so now that the country is starting to accept the reality of its own street children.

The economic depression and monetarist policies adopted by the government have “brasilianised” Argentina: 10% of the population has taken advantage of the situation to make incredible profits while the poor move to new slums (“Villas de miseria”) in the outskirts of the big cities. To maintain a middle class lifestyle has been nearly impossible in a country where one pays US$60 a month for the telephone, $70 for gas (in the summer) and $40 for electricity. “We pay European prices but earn Bolivian wages,” commented an ex member of the middle class.

According to recent reports, in the “Villas de miseria,” violence has reached levels comparable with those in Colombia. There is a worryingly high level of juvenile alcoholism, an increase in the number of suicides and violence between gangs and communities. In the city centres, there are many families and children begging (very few work since the government enforces a ban against child labour).

In spite of this situation, some NGOS and governmental organisations have adopted interesting and successful programmes. The municipality of Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes, co-ordinates community organisations and family associations in an effort to keep children off the streets. La Luciérnaga is a magazine published by children working on the streets. 50,000 copies are sold every month – a number sufficient to provide a good income for many youth. Popular education and community health training are the main focus of the work of FOC in Buenos Aires and of Acción Educativa in Santa Fe.

Luckily, the economic crisis has not weakened the influence of the intellectual community in Argentina. Philosophy and psychoanalysis are the bases of many interesting projects and various NGOs combine research with their work in the communities. On the other hand, in order to survive, the majority of NGO leaders are forced to work at two or three jobs, which leaves them with very little time to think or to rest.

In Argentina, the policies of the IMF, the World Bank and the monetarist government have destroyed the economy and, as can be imagined, poor children are the first victims.