Micro-Enterprise Credit For Street Youth — IELTS Reading Answers

The quotations in the box at the beginning of the article

1. Aexemplify the effects of S.K.I.correct
2. Bexplain why S.K.I. was set up.
3. Coutline the problems of street children.
4. Dhighlight the benefits to society of S.K.I.

“'I am from a large, poor family and for many years we have done without breakfast. Ever since I joined the Street Kids International program I have been able to buy my family sugar and buns for breakfast. I have also bought myself decent second-hand clothes and shoes.' Doreen Soko 'We've had business experience.”

The quotations show Doreen buying breakfast and clothes and Fan gaining business skills, so they exemplify S.K.I.'s effects — option A.

The main purpose of S.K.I. is to

1. Adraw the attention of governments to the problem of street children.
2. Bprovide schools and social support for street children.
3. Cencourage the public to give money to street children.
4. Dgive business training and loans to street children.correct

“Over the past nine years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organisations in Africa, Latin America and India to support the economic lives of street children”

S.K.I. supports 'the economic lives of street children' through business training, life-skills training and credit, matching option D.

Which of the following is mentioned by the writer as a reason why children end up living on the streets?

1. Aunemployment
2. Bwar
3. Cpovertycorrect
4. Dcrime

“Typically, children do not end up on the streets due to a single cause, but to a combination of factors: a dearth of adequately funded schools, the demand for income at home, family breakdown and violence”

Children end up on the streets through 'a combination of factors' including 'the demand for income at home', reflecting poverty — option C.

In order to become more independent, street children may

1. Areject paid employment.
2. Bleave their families.
3. Cset up their own businesses.correct
4. Demploy other children.

“Many children may choose entrepreneurship because it allows them a degree of independence, is less exploitative than many forms of paid employment, and is flexible enough to allow them to participate in other activities such as education and domestic tasks”

Many children 'choose entrepreneurship because it allows them a degree of independence', so setting up businesses is the route — option C.

“The S.K.I. Bicycle Courier Service first started in the Sudan. Participants in this enterprise were supplied with bicycles, which they used to deliver parcels and messages, and which they were required to pay for gradually from their wages. A similar program was taken up in Bangalore, India”

The table needs both countries: the bicycle courier service 'first started in the Sudan', and 'a similar program was taken up in Bangalore, India'.

“Participants in this enterprise were supplied with bicycles, which they used to deliver parcels and messages, and which they were required to pay for gradually from their wages”

The table needs what participants were supplied with and repaid from wages: 'participants ... were supplied with bicycles'.

“Another successful project, the Shoe Shine Collective, was a partnership program with the Y.W.C.A. in the Dominican Republic”

The table needs the project name in the Dominican Republic: 'the Shoe Shine Collective' partnered with the Y.W.C.A.

“Street youths are supported to start their own small business through business training, life skills training and access to credit”

The table needs the training alongside business training: youths receive 'business training, life skills training and access to credit'.

Any street child can set up their own small business if given enough support.

“Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, nor for every street child”

'Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, nor for every street child', contradicting the claim that any child can start a business.

In some cases, the families of street children may need financial support from S.K.I.

“There are tremendous advantages to involving parents or guardians in the program, where such relationships exist. Home visits allow staff the opportunity to know where the participants live, and to understand more about each individual's situation”

Parents may be involved through home visits, but the passage never says families need financial support from S.K.I.

Only one fixed loan should be given to each child.

“Small loans are provided initially for purchasing fixed assets such as bicycles, shoe shine kits and basic building materials for a market stall. As the entrepreneurs gain experience, the enterprises can be gradually expanded and consideration can be given to increasing loan amounts”

Loans start small and 'consideration can be given to increasing loan amounts' as enterprises expand, so one fixed loan is not the rule.

The children have to pay back slightly more money than they borrowed.

“All S.K.I. programs have charged interest on the loans, primarily to get the entrepreneurs used to the concept of paying interest on borrowed money. Generally the rates have been modest (lower than bank rates)”

S.K.I. programs 'charged interest on the loans', so children repay slightly more than they borrowed.

The writers conclude that money should only be lent to street children

1. Aas part of a wider program of aid.correct
2. Bfor programs that are not too ambitious.
3. Cwhen programs are supported by local businesses.
4. Dif the projects planned are realistic and useful.

“However, we believe that credit must be extended in association with other types of support that help participants develop critical life skills as well as productive businesses”

The writers conclude credit 'must be extended in association with other types of support', meaning lending belongs within a wider aid programme — option A.