In this article, we will explore the phenomenon of the so-called bashege, or street children, in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from a criminological/ethnographical perspective. Four months of participant observation and ethnographical interviewing with the Congolese NGO ORPER (Oeuvre de Reclassement et de Protection des Enfants de la Rue) in Kinshasa have enabled us to give a rich description of everyday life among the bashege and the ambiguities and complexities they encounter in this dazzling city. After providing a detailed image of everyday bashege life: how they end up on the street, earn a living and cope with a world of violence and abuse, we will examine different strategies of social reaction on the phenomenon of street children. We will take a closer look at some of the often well-intentioned NGO efforts to “reunite” with and “reintegrate” street children into their families or at least in a more “normal”
society. Furthermore, some of the reasons for the failures and successes of these NGO projects will be examined. Finally, the resistance tactics used by these children in view of these NGO actions will be examined. We will particularly focus on how they deal with their environment and their neighbors and try to understand why many, if not most, bashege still prefer a life on the streets, while there is an abundant offer of education and professional formation within a variety of NGO projects and programs.