This survey aims at establishing a dynamic diagnosis of children and adolescents living on the streets of Brasilia’s main area (known as the "Pilot Plan"), in Brazil’s Federal District, taking into account the psychic and social dimensions of that population. The study was carried out according to the survey-action pattern, using ethnographic and participant observations, in which the researcher interacted with the child through play and educational activities - games and drawings. Observations were recorded in field cards, which were later analyzed and grouped in categories related to the psychic and social dimensions, such as: transgression spots, gangs organization, survival strategies, rapport, relating with their own and other’s bodies. The hypothesis has to do with the influence of these factors as elements connected to the street kid identity and subjectivity construction. Drawings made by children and adolescents pointed to regression aspects and the ethnographic observations showed that the street space works as a paradoxical reference source. By dealing with paradoxes, street boys and girls build alliances and subjective support nets, and organize their identity. The street child dynamics, marked by the paradox, affects the intervention work of social and street educators who must be attentive to avoid being caught by the child’s paradox, which would hamper their ability to think and elaborate on the difficulties their own action.
Social exclusion; Street children and adolescents; Social and street educators
