Children working in the streets and in the service sector in Turkey “A Comparative Study”

Abstract

The purpose of this research article is to examine the situation of the working children in the streets and at the service sector. This descriptive research is conducted on working children in the streets and at the service sector in Ankara. Totally 126 children included in this study by face to face interviews. 70 of them are working on the street and 56 of them are working at the service sector. Some of the important findings of the research are as follows:
The average age of working children on the streets is 12.3 and average age of working children at the service sector is 17, majority of children born in nearest villages and districts of Ankara region. Many of the children working in the streets born in east and south east of Anatolia and their families migrated to Ankara. Parents generally have only basic education. Level of education of the working children in the streets and their families is lower than the counterpart.
The research results indicate working children cannot use their rights adequately such as access to health care services, educational facilities, leisure time activities or social security services. It is revealed that children working in streets have more disadvantage than working children at the service sector.