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

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I extend my sincere gratitude to all who contributed gracefully and made the completion of this work possible, particularly the under-mentioned: Prof Charles Crothers who admitted me and undertook the role of my supervisor. He later recommended that Or. Vasintha Veeran, be my co-supervisor. After Prof. Crothers left the University, Dr. Veeran continued with the supervision role until leaving the University. Both gave me support, advice, encouragement and constructive criticism. Prof. Gerhard Mare head of the Sociology Department, together with Mr Geoff Waters, kindly agreed to play the role of supervisor till I successfully submit the dissertation. The manager of the shelter where I did a pilot study, and all the managers or directors, staff, children of the four shelters. Without their participation in the focus group interviews the whole endeavour would have not been possible. Their support was of great value and remains appreciated. Prof. Anshu Padayachee and Jenny Hollander of SANPAD are thanked for supporting my project proposal which I look forward to starting soon, coupled with facilitating my taking part in several Research Capacity Initiative workshops. The insight and knowledge gained has gone a long way towards improving the end product of the dissertation. The family of Joe Mazibuko, particularly Siphumelele, became good and reliable friends. They welcomed me into their home and exposed me to some aspects of Zulu traditional culture. The staff of E.G. Malherbe Library, particularly in the issue desk, the short loan and the inter-library section, for their valuable assistance. Mrs Catherine Dubbeld helped with proof reading the dissertation. Last of all but not the least my family in Kenya for their unfaltering support and prayers. Thank You! III
ABSTRACT The phenomenon of children living and/or working on the streets is universal, in particular in developing countries in Africa including South Africa. Causal factors are complex, multi dimensional and inter-related and are mainly social and economic. They impact on three social institutions: school, community and family, which are the primary agents of socialisation. Children living and/or working on the streets are exposed to hazardous challenges: diseases; poor health; poor living conditions; crime and violence; arrest and incarceration; alcohol abuse; drug and sexual abuse; poor and exploitative working conditions. Consequently, they learn and internalise the survival culture as a coping mechanism. They suffer socio-economic exclusion in that living on the streets excludes them from participating meaningfully in life of mainstream society. The exclusion is derived from the general public's perception of children living and/or working on the streets, which is derived and shaped by media and sees them as criminals or in need of care. Society responded to the challenges of the phenomenon through shelter programs of intervention and reintegration. However, the efforts of NGOs and shelters have become inconsequential due to the rising numbers and increase their population. This intensifies demands on existing facilities and resources. Research on shelters did not gain any momentum comparative to studies on causative factors of the phenomenon. This situation plausibly could have arisen due to society's acceptance that shelters intervention and reintegration programs were adequately meeting and addressing the plight of children living and/or working on the streets. Yet shelters viewed as human service organisations have their organisational procedures and structures, which either hinder or facilitate the intervention and reintegration of children into the mainstream society. This study focuses on four shelters for children living and/or working on the streets in Durban. Social exclusion and/organisation theories informed the theoretical framework of the research. The enquiry applied a qualitative paradigm whereby individual interviews with shelter managers were conducted. Focus group discussions were conducted each separately with staff and children from the four shelters. The technique revealed valuable information about the experiences of children, staff and shelter managers as they interact and interface in the course of providing and receiving shelters services and in the implementation of intervention and reintegration programs. IV
Page 1: A Study of Shelters for Street Chil
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 and 28: To perceive human social reality as
Page 29 and 30: Shelter's intervention/reintegratio
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
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• Staff morale was high when moti
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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
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children with their families where
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y the shelter's philosophy, goals,
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4.2.5 Shelter Routine and Regulatio
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4.2.6 Policy on Visitors The four s
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children played; this was done depe
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living and/or working on the street
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4.3.1 Structure and physical locati
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Apart from management of shelters,
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Regarding transparency, accountabil
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Staff expressed that children shoul
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was immediately reassuring to child
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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
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5.1 Introduction CHAPTER FIVE DISCU
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The challenges of children living a
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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
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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
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3.1.5. Does the shelter have any re
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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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