This study attempts to explore the life situation of street children who live andrnwork on the street of Hawassa. The study mainly aimed at investigating thernfactors contributed for streetism, survival strategies of street children, challengesrnof street life and the present living and working condition of these children. Tornbetter understand street children and to portray their everyday life situationrnqualitative research method was employed as the sole technique of datarncollection. Data pertinent to the study was gained through guided interview, Indepthrninterview, focus group discussion and personal observation.rnThis study assumes children as competent social actors who have certainrnfreedom of choice and action. To this effect, the basic concept of structurationrntheory, a theory concerned with the intersection between knowledgeable andrncapable social agents and the wider social systems and structure in which theyrnimplicate was employed as a theoretical framework to address the researchrnproblem as well as to realize and interpret the situation of the studied group.rnThe findings of this research depict that every child has a reason for being on thernstreet. For some children, the street is an escape from domestic violence andrnabuse. For others, the street is a means of survival in supplementing theirrnfamily's income and in fulfilling their basic necessities. Once children join streetrnlife, they struggle to survive through undertaking a wide variety of activitiesrnwhich mainly take place in the informal sector. Besides, as integral part ofrnsurvival strategy, street children interact with each other through multiplernnetworks and over the range of issues and concerns that constitute social life.rnThis social network serves as a buffer against vulnerability, shocks andrnlivelihood constraints on one hand. On the other, it is characterized byrnhierarchies and unequal power relations between and among children ofrndifferent age sex which contribute to conflict and competition.rnLife on the street is a tough reality. The living and working situation make uprnstreet children vulnerable to various kinds of, physical, sexual, psychological,rnand drug abuse. Accessibility to basic necessities like food, cloth, shelter, healthrncare and other services are also severely restricted to these children.