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

1.8 Theoretical Background
Researchers discuss the role and use of theory in research. Theory informs research
and research likewise theory. The process is determined by the type of investigation
the study wishes to archive (Babbie, and Mouton, 2001). This study is based on the
organizational structures of shelters for children living and/or working on the streets.
Shelters are a response to the challenges posed by either children living or working on
the streets. Living and/or working on the streets is derived from difficult circumstances
which excludes children from accessing services and realising their potential. Social
exclusion and/organizational theories formed the framework of this study.
1.8.1 Social Exclusion Theory
Children living and/or working on the streets fall under the categories of disadvantaged
and at risk. These categories, it could be argued fall under the broader theoretical
concept of social exclusion theory. Children living and/or working on the streets,
according to UNESCO, are socially excluded from various social activities e.g. school
and learning, medical care, housing, welfare grants, (http://www.unesco.org/education:
3/4/2003). Proponents of social exclusion theory (lLD, http://www.ilo.org) emphasise
the point that poverty is a major factor in social exclusion. While the concept is derived
from capitalism and in particular western capitalism (Agulnik, 2002; Piachaud and
Sutherland in Agulnik, 2002), the concept is quite relevant to children living and/or
working on the streets because life on the streets is full of risk and life threatening
behaviours. Children due to the lack of necessary official documentation find it difficult
to access necessary services that could help to redress their conditions. Failure to
access services means children are vulnerable to diseases, poor dieting, lack of
attending school, and are exposed to criminal behaviours. Social exclusion in reference
to children living and/or working on the street is intensified by street life culture, which
alienates children from the mainstream society. Social exclusion resonates well with
why shelters strive to intervene and run programs of re-integration of children into
mainstream society. Reasonably it could be argued that the ways and means shelters
deal with intervention and reintegration without or with little participation of the children
could be a pointer and extension of the problem of social exclusion of the children.
Shelters and their programs of intervention/reintegration are a response to redress the
social exclusion of children Jiving and/or working on the streets.
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