A Study of Shelters for Street Children from an Organizational ...

contributing factor and cannot be ignored in any study of the phenomenon. It has also
posed new challenges in the area of shelters care programs and intervention
strategies. Shelters have to cater for the reintegration of children into mainstream
society, care for the increasing orphan population, and at the same time provide
specialized care for those children already infected or showing symptoms of the
disease. As a result, the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic place additional
burdens on shelter staff and finances (Boikanyo and Donnell, 1997; Desmond and
Gow, 2001). WHO has developed a training manual for street educators or people who
work with children living and working on the streets in response to the challenges of
HIV/AIDS (http://www.who.intlstreet_children:21/2/2002). Some researchers argue
that the pandemic will increase the number of children living or working on the streets
(http://www.cyc-net.org/today2002:22/21/2003).This factor needs further research to
empirically support the claim and in particular in contemporary South Africa.
Much work has been done regarding the factors which give rise to the phenomenon of
children living or working on the streets, how the children live on the streets and what
can be done about them (Acker, 1986; Agnelli, 1986; Ndhlovu, 1999; Richer, 1991;
Swart, 1991). In a report to the World Bank Institute, Volpi pointed out that the
phenomenon is spreading into other areas of the world where it was previously
unknown, and according to her, the obvious causes are dysfunctional family ties and
communities who succumb to adverse economic situations, which widen the gap
between the very rich and the very poor. The phenomenon of children living and
working on the streets is an alarming signal for economic and social redress so that the
children do not continue to be marginalized, and this can be achieved through action to
relieve the hardships of those already on the streets (http://www.worldbank.org:
27/5/2003). The World Bank only recently contemplated engaging with the plight of
children living and working on the streets. Wolfensohn (2000), the president of the
World Bank, acknowledged that children living and/or working on the streets were a
growing concern and of particular interest to his institution, and added, 'The Bank does
not want to displace anybody operating in this field but to be an adjunct, an ally and
support and to bring in the weight of this institution behind this issue."
(http://wbln0018.worldbank.org: 10/5/2003). According to Wolfensohn, the implication is
that the World Bank would not interfere with organisations dealing with children living
and working on the streets, but show a commitment through including the phenomenon
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