More than half a million street kids are found in Ethiopia, and the majority are found in Addis Ababa. According to a 2010 survey conducted, researchers estimated nearly 12,000 kids live on the streets of Addis Ababa. Nowadays, this figure has risen alarmingly since then. The kids wander around the main highways in the city carrying plastic bottles filled with glue. The glue, originally manufactured for apparel and upholstery productions, is popular among street kids for the hallucinogenic effects. It is easy to obtain, and anyone can buy 5ml for only 10 Birr.

The government hasn’t planned any programmes or facilities to help the children from this life. In fact, the restrictive civil society regulation limits charities from helping in any way. The government only takes forceful measures when there is a high-profile event in the capital under the pretense of Cleaning Addis Ababa’s streets of children. Mereja TV visited the kids to hear the story from their side.