Originally Posted by A1R3K

i spent a year in brasil and this type of thing is common. there are tons and tons of kids on the streets. the parents can't afford them and make them go out and panhandle and steal and get whatever they can through sympathy. it is not uncommon to see children at street lights looking like they are going to cry in the hope that people give them money. the problem is when you do give them money, many of them are glue sniffers and take the money to go huffing. at least in the south where i was in curitiba there where many of these kids. at night when you are walking around, you could easily get accosted by a gang of 8-10 year olds in a pack and they'll strong arm mug you. it's crazy at times.