Riaz Ahmed, 9 years old

Riaz ran away from home after being beaten by his father. For several days, he lived on the streets of Karachi before climbing onto the back of a bus that took him to Hyderabad.

Alone in a new city, Riaz met a group of older boys who introduced him to drugs and street life. It is believed that he may have been harmed during this time. For several weeks, he lived near a shrine in Hyderabad until Roshni Helpline located him and brought him safely back to his family.

Riaz’s family is extremely poor. He works full time at a motorcycle repair shop, operating a lathe machine, and spends long hours there each day. He often feels unhappy at home and dreams of going to school and playing like other children his age.

Although Riaz was relieved to return home after more than a month on the streets, the hardships and experiences he had while away continue to weigh heavily on him. Roshni Helpline is concerned he may run away again due to his difficult life at home and his exposure to drugs on the streets.