Street children are a global phenomenon, and are defined as children who live and/or work on the streets. The term 'street child' can be used to refer to any child who lives or works on the streets, regardless of their family situation. The term has been used to describe three different types of street children: urchins, gamins, and ragamuffins. An URCHIN is a young street child who is often homeless and may beg or scavenge for food. A GAMIN is a street child who is usually older than an URCHIN and may engage in petty crime or prostitution. A RAGAMUFFIN is a street child who is usually younger than a GAMIN and is often dressed in ragged clothing. All three terms are used to describe street children who are living in poverty and are often neglected by society.