EFSC is actively involved in promoting the key objectives of the 2010 European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion.  Two publications carried by EFSC and its member's organizations are now available- Street Children Stories and an analysis of fact sheets on the situation of street children in key European member States relevant for street children.

Both documents are distributed among European media, key EU partners as well as by EFSC members organizations on national level as part of the informational and awareness raising activities on the EY 2010.

1. A compilation of street children stories from a number of EFSC members which illustrate in a typical way the life stories of street children as well as the efforts (and results) of EFSC members working with them in the field in order to re-integrate them into society. Beyond the specific differences of each case, most of the stories have a common theme that shows the family's situation, the experiences of poverty and social exclusion, as well as the initial difficulties experienced in the first contact with the NGOs and their ability to accept help. They often speak a simple but authentic language describing the reasons for their situation in an honest way and therefore strongly accusing a cold and ignorant society that ´produces` them. The stories illustrate concretely many aspects of the difficult and admirable work of the social organizations working with these `lost` children in the field trying to create the framework conditions to answer to "their expectation to be able to have a better life". This publication is part of EFSC awareness raising activities during the European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion during which EFSC advocate to make street children a key target group of extreme exclusion.

In the introductory part the issue of street children is put into the larger context of the European social reality and policy and the European Year 2010, providing key advocacy messages for raising awareness on their life situation.

2.  An analysis of fact sheets on the situation of street children in key European Member States relevant for street children *. These fact sheets contain data and figures about street children and information on NGOs and authorities supporting them as well as legal and political framework conditions at the national levels.The fact sheets have been filled in by the following members to whom we particularly thank for their contributions and efforts:

Organisations and countries that have taken part in the survey:

*EFSC is aware that fact sheets does not constitute a systematic scientific research providing with significant and objective results related to all EU Member States nor regarding each of the countries concerned, but the compilation offers at a first stake a number of very interesting basic tendencies regarding the numbers of street children and relevant developments of this phenomenon within Europe as a whole. Furthermore it confirms that there is a lack of reliable data in all countries examined and in consequence that there exists a strong need for systematic collection of those data.

The EFSC is supported by the European Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (2007-2013) PROGRESS.

This programme is managed by the Directorate-General for Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities of the European Commission. It was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals in these fields.

The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries.

PROGRESS mission is to strengthen the EU contribution in support of Member States' commitment. PROGRESS will be instrumental in:

• providing analysis and policy advice on PROGRESS policy areas;
• monitoring and reporting on the implementation of EU legislation and policies in PROGRESS policy areas;
• promoting policy transfer, learning and support among Member States on EU objectives and priorities;
• and relaying the views of the stakeholders and society at large

For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress

The information contained in these publications does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.