Life in a Manhole

The first flakes of snow begin to fall. The wind is getting colder. Winter is coming. Soon the temperature will plunge to - 40° C. Two boys with chilled faces descend into a manhole in the ground. Their names are Bagii and Itgel. They are street kids, and this is their home.

An estimated 3,700 to 4,000 kids live on the street in Mongolia; the majority of them reside in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. They are the byproduct of the political and economic transition that has marked the country since the 1990s when the Soviet Union collapsed and brought and end to economic support. Schools, factories, and communal farms closed or were privatized, while social services almost ceased to exist. Poverty spread, and people migrated to Ulaanbaatar in search of work. Among them was Bagii's family.

Bagii and Itgel's Story

"My father was a herdsman," stated 16-year old Bagii matter-of-factly, "We had to give back our horses and sheep when the farm went private." Finding that his family could no longer support him, Bagii took to the streets. "I never imagined I would end up this way," he said.

Bagii is a born leader: charismatic, responsible, and resourceful. As the head of the gang, he shoulders the burden of feeding and looking after the others. Much like the head of a family, he feeds others before himself and does not tolerate theft.

Bagii, along with 11-year old Itgel and a number of other boys, live underground in one of the many manholes that contain heating pipes. The pipes are remnants of the vast underground central heating system, which the Soviet Union built to keep Ulaanbaatar-one of the coldest capital cities in the world-warm during the long winter months.

The manholes are dirty and hot, often too hot to sleep. Pieces of cardboard placed on top of the pipes serve as beds. Candles are the only light.

Like a family, the boys rely on one another. They share food, money and the perils of the street. Together, they roam the streets of Ulaanbaatar in search of cans and bottles they can sell to buy food. Whether they eat depends on how much they collect.

"What's the matter with Itgel?" someone asked, as Itgel stood motionless looking at his shoes, "He is very hungry….none of us have eaten today." Itgel nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other, eventually putting his head in his hands. When few bottles or cans are collected, it means the food goes to "the little guys" only. Bagii makes sure that the smaller boys eat before the older ones, as the older ones can withstand hunger by smoking a cigarette. Itgel said times like this make him think of home, and it makes him cry.

Itgel had a happy home life until his father was arrested for fighting. He loved his father so much that he couldn't stand to live at home without him, so he ran away. When he returned, his mother had moved. Alone and abandoned, he followed Bagii's gang until they accepted him. "That night we gave him some food," remembered Bagii, "and he became our little brother." Life on the street is dangerous and kids get hurt. Belonging to a gang is a way of survival here. It means not only shared resources but protection as well.

Bagii understood the dangers and knew he must get off the street soon, to avoid the fate of "lifers" - kids who spend the entire year on the street subjected to violence, crime and sometimes prostitution. With the winter fast approaching, Bagii and Itgel were scared. They had even more cause to worry when the watchman of the nearby building told the gang to leave the manhole. Bagii paced the dirt around their home and said fearfully, "He said he'll come back and set the tank on fire."

Not being able to live in the tank would expose the group to deadly attacks by rival gangs. Itgel feared for his life and decided to go to a children's shelter. "I will stay [there] until I'm 18. I'll get an education," he said with resolve. He said goodbye to his "best friends in the world," each giving him a tender kiss on the cheek. Bagii was the last of the group to say goodbye; instead of a tender kiss, he leaned towards Itgel and playfully bit him.

Bagii cannot go to the shelter because he is too old. Instead, he went to one of the few people who helped him in the past: a former street kid who is now a janitor in an apartment complex. Bagii thought he might be able to sleep in the basement of the building. "Come back tomorrow," the janitor said. But Bagii was doubtful. "He is just saying that. He is probably not telling the truth," he said.

Bagii was resigned. "I guess I'll live this way a few more years. When I grow up I'll see life differently. I'll be smarter. Everything will change."

What's Next for Bagii and Itgel?

Itgel was true to his word and entered a child-care center called Light House, which is run by World Vision. He has now settled in and is learning to live like a normal boy again. He is doing well in an informal class at fourth grade level, is good at table tennis and is participating in talent competitions.

His mother sold their house and disappeared with the two youngest children in the spring of 2003. The social workers at the Center are trying to locate her, since the best solution would be to reunite Itgel with his mother and provide the kind of support and follow-up that would allow the boy and his family to maintain a stable home life. If they cannot find her, Itgel can live at the center until he is 18 years old.

Bagii, on the other hand, faces the winter months alone in the manhole. The boys that were living with him left to join a gang of bigger boys. He still hasn't been able to get the keys for the basement. "Films should have happy endings," he said. "I wish we could have given you a happy ending." With that, he walked away, the snow falling on his tousled hair. He is thinking about returning home.

Meanwhile, Ulaanbaatar is changing. The city is growing and private companies are buying land for development. They are closing the manholes, depriving many street children of their only shelter. A shopping mall will be built on top of Bagii's manhole.

What Can You Do?

Every child has the right to grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. Yet due to varying circumstances, mainly poverty, millions of street children around the world are denied this right. Find out more about the various international and national organizations working to help street kids.

UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund)and organizations such as Save the Children, World Vision, the Lotus Children's Center, and the Christina Nobel Children's Foundation help kids get off the streets. They operate facilities and programs that offer shelter, education and vocational and life skills training. The best solution is to reunite children with their families and offer support to parents. These organizations also address the immediate needs of children who remain on the street through drop-in centers that provide hot meals, washing facilities, and essential material necessities.