"The problem is and will be growing," said Monika Winiarska, from the department of pedagogy and psychology at the University of Białystok (UwB).
The most typical problems include truancy, running away from home, working on the streets and stealing, according to Father Stanisław Rafałko, the head of the WarsawCenter of the Salesian Mission, a Catholic NGO which runs the International Voluntary Don Bosco, to help homeless children worldwide. Such problems not only affect children from dysfunctional families, but also those in stable homes, Father Rafałko stressed.
"The problem is developing and the demand for our help is growing since more and more parents are turning to us," Father Rafałko said. While no data on the exact number of neglected children exists for Poland, the Salesians estimate there are 90 million such children worldwide.
The decay of family bonds is the main cause for such behavior, according to UwB's Winiarska. The problem is further aggravated by factors like poor receational infrastructure she added.
Fortunately, NGO aid for such children is growing in Poland, experts noted. Apart from the Salesian Mission, key institutions include the European Network on Street Children Worldwide and the National Committee of Rehabilitation Education (KKWR).
The Polish government and voluntary organizations also provide help for street children abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spend zł.110 million this year to finance NGOs who send volunteers worldwide.
