Thelma sits in front of a makeshift shelter built from tarpaulins and found materials beneath a bridge in a Zambian city. She is part of a small group of street girls trying to create a refuge in a daily life marked by insecurity and abuse. In Zambia, thousands of children live on the streets, particularly in larger cities such as Lusaka and Kitwe. Many are orphans due to HIV/AIDS or have fled domestic violence. Girls are among the most vulnerable: without protection, they face the threat of sexual assault from adult men almost every night. According to UNICEF and local NGOs, street children often survive by doing odd jobs, begging, or, in the worst cases, through exploitation. The four girls who built a small “house” out of plastic, wooden scraps, and fabric under a bridge in the capital Lusaka are trying to create some sense of home and community.