Little children are begging at traffic lights in the streets of Athens

With my car I drive to the streets of Athens. Somewhere near an area called Keratsini  I stop at a traffic light. There comes a little girl and cleans my glass. I give her 1 euro. She smiles at me and  says "thank you". Then she goes to the next car. Beside her are  two more  young children.

I park the car , I  go down and approach them. I ask the kids their names . They are Katerina, Dimitris and Giorgos. When I tell them I'm a journalist, the two disappear. "We're afraid of the cameras. Our parents will ruin us " Only Dimitris is left. A beautiful brunette boy with a permissive look.



He tells me he cleans the car windows all day. "Where are your  parents ?" I ask him. "My parents are separated. My mother kept my 4 sisters at home. My father took me because  I am a boy and we live in the street. I clean the windows and with the money we get food because my father does not find a job ".




He asks me if I can help him get into a foundation. "I know a lot of kids who are in a foundation. There they will give me food, clothes and a soft bed. I will not sleep on the road. And I will not be so tired, "he tells me. "And I will probably see my mother more."




In the times of  economic crisis  in Greece  the  children  who work or beg are  unfortunately growing, while many are forced to leave school.