This study assessed the situation of street children in Lubumbashi, DRC through a survey of 250 children across the city’s seven municipalities in November 2021. Most respondents were boys (85%) with an average age of 13, and more than half came from the central region of the country. Begging was their most common activity, and all reported using psychoactive substances, with cannabis being the most frequent, often to fit in or reduce fear. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger state involvement, organizational support, and parental responsibility to address and reduce the phenomenon of street children.