Challenges and Coping Strategies of Street Children: Findings from a Field Study in Colombo City

Street children living in metropolitan cities have received considerable attention in numerous studies; however, the challenges faced by street children in relatively smaller cities remain largely understudied. The present study was conducted with the aim of understanding and identifying the challenges encountered by street children living in Colombo. To gain an in-depth understanding of these children, a descriptive research design was adopted. The findings of the study are based on a sample of 200 children selected through the simple random sampling method. Poverty was identified as the key factor contributing to the street children phenomenon. The problems and difficulties experienced by these children began with their struggle to meet basic needs. To cope with the wide range of challenges they faced, street children were found to adopt multiple coping strategies.