Ministry of Civil Affairs and the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) will strengthen their co-operation in the next five years to help more street children in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan Province, and spread the city's successful experiences in rescuing homeless kids.

UNICEF will contribute about US$100,000 each year to six projects, such as developing training centres, setting up a national level workshop on the city's methods, and updating published information, sources from UNICEF said.

They will try to enhance co-operation on helping homeless children avoid violence and AIDS.

"Many street children leave home and live on the streets because of violence and neglect in the family," said Masahiro Ono, chief of Protection and Community Services Section of UNICEF Office for China.

"And they also face violence in the street. That is why we want to teach the street children and work staff to avoid violence."

"We also underline the importance of our support to HIV/AIDS prevention as street children are one of the most vulnerable groups in society," he said.

"Although we don't really have figures in China for street children infected by HIV/AIDS, studies in other countries demonstrate that street children and former street children are in fact extremely vulnerable."

Achievements have been made in Zhengzhou during the past five years.

The city has set up a multi-level protection model, which due to its innovative rights-based approach is now being replicated in different parts of the country.

The model introduced approaches such as a 24-hour drop-in centre for street children, an outreach programme among university students, community-based residential care, and foster care. All of these things were a first for China.

Statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs indicated that in 2002, China had about 150,000 street children.

About 70 per cent were boys and more than 80 per cent came from poverty-stricken areas with very little education.

Currently China has at least 130 rescue centres nationwide for homeless children.

The focus of their work has gradually turned from taking in street children to protecting their rights.

(China Daily 01/05/2006 page2)