Berlin Street Kids
The homeless young punks of Germany's capital city
There are many reasons why young Germans are ending up on the streets. Many have escaped unhappy homes and abusive family relationships. Drugs and a sense of community can keep them there.
”Here you can disappear - go unnoticed”. Others are sucked into the streets by their addictions: “I get up late, drink what’s left of the beer. I stated taking pills when I was eleven, I was injecting when I was thirteen...”, says a young girl. “The hygiene isn’t great. There are lots of skin diseases going round... And I know loads of people with AIDS and Hepatitis B”. Apart from all the obvious dangers to their physical health, social workers fear street kids are subjected to extreme psychological violence – that is even harder to overcome. On the streets children can’t avoid being exposed to people who make a living by dealing drugs or prostitution. One girl who finally managed to quit the drugs and get off the game says “ Living on the streets you either sink or swim. You have to be tough to survive. Like me”.
Produced by ORF
FULL SYNOPSIS