The cars speed by, inches from my head, as I lower myself down through the narrow sewer drain by the curb of one of Luanda's busiest streets.
One boy, who seconds earlier seemed to have just slipped through the dirty, 8-inch wide space before me, guides my legs down into his dark and dank home - one of the sewer systems of Luanda - a home he shares with about 60 other street children. Seconds later, a stolen candle is lit and around me are the shadowy faces of 10 extremely bright, tough and filthy boys, ranging in age from Most are interested in talking, but some, with unfocused, slow-moving eyes are more interested in sniffing gasoline from empty beer cans.
Focused or not, all of their eyes reflect an age much older than their years. Pazinho, is 10 years old and has lived and slept in the sewer since He's originally from Caxito, 60 kms away from Luanda, where he thinks his mother and father still live. He's very small for his age and constantly looks up to the older boys for confidence. I'd rather be with my mum and dad but I don't have any shoes to wear to walk back home.
Antonio is 14, slightly aggressive and high on gasoline fumes. She has lots of money and she's gone to Brazil and left me behind. That's why I'm here! Orlando is 9 years old and was born in Luanda. That was 2 years ago and I've been on the streets since," he says. Even though he used to get beaten up at home, he says he would like to find his father again. During the day I wash cars, carry water and go through the garbage to find food I want to be a mechanic. Sammy is 11 and says, "I've been on my own forever.
I don't even remember who my family is I sniff gasoline because I think all the time about the family I don't have. Some of the boys have been to the street boys home: some stayed at the home, but a few came back. Leopoldina initiated a successful income-generating project that not only helps to support group homes for orphaned or abandoned children in Kuito, but also keeps costs down for UNICEF's Kuito office.
