Navigating the Challenges: Street Youth in Latvia and Their Journey to Career Opportunities

Topicality of the research is given by the author’s observation of street youth situation in Latvia – there is no data about them, there are a few services for them, but quite a lot of young people choose streets as their way of living. Their future depends on choices they made in the early age– not attending school leads to lack in education and low possibility to be involved in education, training and, as a result, getting desired job and being successful in professional life. The aim of the pilot study is to realize what kinds of issues street youth are facing, what are their desires about professional development and how are they looking into their future. Methodology includes theoretical research on the topic and small qualitative research which consists of five questions. The questions covering respondents plans towards their future, education possibilities and reasons that brought them into streets. The results show that street youth are coming to street because of problems at home (lack of parenting, parent abuse, addictions in families and problems in school as well). Theoretical research shows that youth needs more support and services prior their becoming street youth, it emphasizes the importance of prevention.