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

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what or not works in addressing the causes and intervention/reintegration programs. If we consider, first, that the phenomenon of children living and/or working on the streets has been recognised by world institutions as a challenge to society, which needs to be addressed at all levels, and tackling the challenges is congruent with protecting their rights and secondly, that humanity interacts through inter-connected and inseparable processes, it would follow that there would be a world mechanism or body to monitor, develop, implement, coordinate and sustain the intervention and reintegration strategies. E.g. The National Alliance for Street Children in South Africa; and the Durban Street Children's Forum. The two structures are in the making, not yet fully operational or representative enough but the efforts are noteworthy. Other examples include, the European Union who has set the European Network on Children living and/or working on the streets Worldwide. Among the aims and objectives of the network is to create awareness, to lobby politicians and seeks increased budget allocations on behalf of children living and working on the streets and their needs (http://www.enscw.org/englhtm: 24/5/2003). Child Rights Information Net Work (CRIN) was formerly formed in 1995 to coordinate NGOs that work with children living and working on the streets e.g. Childhope Intemational; Streetkids Intemational; and Futures For Children of Homeless Families Foundation. CRIN's membership has grown substantially since it was established and by the end of 2003, there were over 1,400 organisational members. According to CRIN, most of members are non-govemmental organisations (NGOs). The network includes also United Nations agencies, community based organisations, research institutions, inter-govemmental organisation (IGOs) and govemmental organisations (http://www.crin.org/organisations: 24/5/2003). The network reaffirms also the point that the phenomenon of children living and working on the street is worldwide as was pointed out by Jewdokimowa (1999) that; 'The problem of street children is an intemational problem, which must be dealt with on an intemational basis' (http://www.enscw.org: 23/5/2003). Cognisant of the fact that the phenomenon is world wide, it would follow that such networks and structures would be replicated within the regions of Africa (Bourdillon, 2001 http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-1201 bourdillon-I.html: 24/5/2003 ). 19
Shelter's intervention/reintegration programs notably omit 'children's voice'. Consequently, the omission of children's voices contravenes the rights of children in residential care and as laid down in the manual on Minimum Standards of Child and Youth Care (1998:13). Researchers emphasise that children's voice be heard, and their contribution and participation be valued (Ennew, 1994). Children who participated in a forum for street children in Brussels stated that "We, the young people from the different countries that have participated in this forum, have for a long time been thinking about the issues that concern us directly or indirectly". They identified health, education, rights of children and young people, culture, social, sport, leisure, and participation in politics, as issues that need the attention of governments, NGOs and all those concerned with the welfare of children living and/or working on the streets (http://www.enscw.org/eng/Forum: 5/5/2003). 2.3 Review of the Related Literature The phenomenon of children living and/or working on the streets has been researched and studies worldwide emphases different themes and responses to the challenges children pose to societies. The studies are predominantly done after media highlights the plight of children living and/or working on the streets. There is a noticeable trend whereby the studies start by concentrating on difficulties of defining the subject matter, who 'children living and/or working on the streets' are, the applicability of the label ' 'street children' and how children themselves perceive the use of label (Agnelli, 1986; Aptekar, 1988; Blanc, 1995; English, 2002; Swart, 1990; Swart-Kruger and Donald, 1994). Worth noting is that the studies recommend some form of intervention to alleviate the plight of children. Studies by Corrizosa and Poertner (1992), Hansson (1991), Hagan and McCarthy (1999), Hutson and Liddlad, (1994), Swart (1990), Swart Kruger and Donald (1994), emphasized the categorization children living and/or working on the streets either as children in need of care and therefore to be mercifully treated, or as potential criminals and a nuisance to the public. In this regard, the public called for the children's removal from the streets, particularly in Durban beachfront area for the sake of tourist business (http://www.suntimes.co.za: 24/5/2003). The use of police to remove children from the streets has been discredited due to the conflict and tensions it generates causing poor relations between them (Allsebrook and Swift, 1989, Balanon, 1989; Bourdillon, 19995; Boyden and Holden 1991; Human Rights Watch, 1997; Lusk 1989). However, the role of the police cannot be dispensed with because of 20
Page 1: A Study of Shelters for Street Chil
Page 4 and 5: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I extend my sincer
Page 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 0 NE 1 IN
Page 9 and 10: LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Showing the
Page 11 and 12: children's homes. In 1996 the Europ
Page 13 and 14: specifically in its policies (http:
Page 15 and 16: Hosken, (2004) in an article titled
Page 17 and 18: 1.5 The Purpose and Objective of th
Page 19 and 20: names of the shelters have been ren
Page 21 and 22: 1.8.2 Organizationalll1eory Shelter
Page 23 and 24: Chapter Four: Data analysis. The ch
Page 25 and 26: communities posing enormous challen
Page 27: To perceive human social reality as
Page 32 and 33: 2.4 Definitions The focus of the re
Page 35: enforcement officers, outreach work
Page 40 and 41: 3.1 Introduction CHAPTER THREE RESE
Page 42 and 43: given to the demands of shelter pro
Page 44 and 45: views and perceptions over the topi
Page 46 and 47: 3.4 The Researcher in Qualitative I
Page 48 and 49: which means children there, are sta
Page 51 and 52: paid to the recording devices. The
Page 53 and 54: esearchers need to agree or disagre
Page 55 and 56: • Staff morale was high when moti
Page 57 and 58: 3.11 Ethical Considerations Babbie
Page 59 and 60: 4.1 Introduction CHAPTER FOUR OATA
Page 61 and 62: 4.2. Shelters Services and Programs
Page 63 and 64: children with their families where
Page 65 and 66: y the shelter's philosophy, goals,
Page 67 and 68: 4.2.5 Shelter Routine and Regulatio
Page 69 and 70: 4.2.6 Policy on Visitors The four s
Page 71 and 72: children played; this was done depe
Page 73 and 74: living and/or working on the street
Page 75 and 76: 4.3.1 Structure and physical locati
Page 77 and 78: Apart from management of shelters,
Page 79 and 80:
Regarding transparency, accountabil
Page 81 and 82:
Staff expressed that children shoul
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was immediately reassuring to child
Page 85 and 86:
will to choose whether to or not li
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Sangoma (traditional doctor) and I
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Look at this shelter look at the do
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preferable. Participants continued
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It is okay when one is going with a
Page 95 and 96:
5.1 Introduction CHAPTER FIVE DISCU
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The challenges of children living a
Page 102 and 103:
differed greatly from the feelings
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een on the streets for a very long
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from the overseas. Some of the loca
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programs to communities and familie
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explained, was their priority. It i
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streets, consequently, shelters int
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perspectives, understanding, and ca
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understand such discourses. Through
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6.1.3 Conclusions Regarding Researc
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and appreciation that the children
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Shelters could endeavour to reinfor
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The effort is to move the children
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macroeconomic factors, the local mi
Page 128 and 129:
REFERENCES Acker, A. (1986). Childr
Page 130 and 131:
Brown, D. C. (1996). 'Why ask why:
Page 132 and 133:
Gronbjen, K. A. (1992). Nonprofit H
Page 134 and 135:
Mills C. W. (1971). The Sociologica
Page 136 and 137:
Swart, J. (1987). 'Street Children:
Page 138 and 139:
Street children in http://allafrica
Page 140 and 141:
3.1.5. Does the shelter have any re
Page 142 and 143:
4. Social and Recreation 4.1. How a
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Follow-up questions What are the sh
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APPENDIX 3 FOCUS GROUPS CHILDREN Pl
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6. Shelter routine and Discipline:
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