Invincible Lives: 13-year-old Emma dreams of school but poverty forces him to beg for survival

Thirteen-year-old Emma wakes to the sound of traffic rather than the ringing of a school bell each morning. She and her mother, Adjoa, live on the streets of Accra, Ghana, after moving from Koforidua a year ago, seeking work and a better life. With no stable income or home, they must beg daily to survive. While Adjoa dreams of sending Emma to school, Emma must instead join her in begging, as education is currently out of reach.

Despite the hardships, Emma clings to the hope of attending school, aspiring to become a law enforcement officer. Yet, survival is his immediate priority. UNICEF estimates that 150 million children worldwide are exposed to various forms of vulnerability on the streets, including abuse and exploitation. In Accra alone, approximately 61,000 children are estimated to be living or working on the streets.

Child Rights International Executive Director Bright Appiah stresses the need for a stronger social protection system and coordinated government action to prevent children from being forced to survive on the streets. Until Emma and other children like him can access education, healthcare, shelter, and protection, the streets of Accra will continue to expose a painful reality: how many childhoods are being lost to poverty.