The Social and Economic Factors Influencing Child Street Begging: Evidence from Probolinggo, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to explore the social and economic conditions of families who become street beggars in Probolinggo City, East Java, with particular attention to poor households facing significant life challenges. Children who engage in street begging in Probolinggo often come from families marked by severe poverty, unstable family structures, and restricted access to education. These circumstances drive them to beg as a survival strategy. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research collected data through in-depth interviews, observation, and document analysis of a family headed by a single mother and her two children involved in begging activities. The findings indicate that poverty and family instability are the primary factors pushing children onto the streets. Moreover, street beggar children are exposed to multiple risks, including exploitation, violence, and the loss of access to proper education. The study also highlights the social stigma attached to beggars, which exacerbates their social isolation. Despite these hardships, the mother and children in this study expressed aspirations to improve their lives, demonstrating notable resilience in the face of adversity. The research concludes that holistic social and economic interventions such as expanding access to education, creating job opportunities, and strengthening social support are essential to addressing the problem of child street begging in Probolinggo City.