I am still very conflicted about how best to handle them. If I buy bracelets for Rp.5000 each do they actually get to keep any of that or does Mum, Dad or the Boss take it?
I used to think better to buy them food. Sometimes I would take them to the Circle K and buy ice creams for them but then I thought. "Oh God you are teaching them to go with strangers for ice cream" so then if on the beach I would go with them to the Bakso man and buy Bakso. If asked which of the food vendors they want to buy from they always choose Bakso. I assume this is because it is more expensive than the little paper packets of Nasi Ayam so it's a bit of a treat.
It bothers me that they are hanging around bars very late at night because the almost inevitable way for them seems to lead to drugs or prostitution. Maybe the best thing would be to donate to the charity mentioned below. Interested to know how others handle this.