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

wherever one wanted. Participant's main complaints were the shelters chores and one
said:
One reason that made me run from home is because I did not like to do home
chores; I am here not expecting to do them either (translated).
Participants argued that shelters were okay as long as they allowed flexibility to allow
alternatives and free environment for life as they had come to know previously. Older
participants stated that they should be allowed to stay otherwise they were back again
in the streets as young adults. One of the older participants said:
You do not tell how old you are exactly because they make you go away from
the shelter. It is not easy there lots of violence (translated).
On the issue of reintegration, participants had a consensus and emphasised that
shelters be considerate before they were reintegrated with families or communities.
They said shelters should ensure that the situations in the family or community, which
caused us to run away, had changed or stabilised. Their views are summed up in the
statement of one of the participant who said:
We come into the shelters and before we are ready, that we have learned
certain things that can make one employable, the social worker want to take us
home. You see home there are many problems, with step parents, other
siblings, no money, no food, these are some of the reasons some us run away
from. Before the situation can change it is of no use taking us there, one just
have to run away again (translated).
Participants argued that when we are taken home and the circumstances had not
improved or changed we find it difficult to stay there and just run away again back into
the streets. It is better for shelters to stabilize first the conditions of our families, give
us skills so that we can be employed or can find jobs first and then we are ready to
leave the shelters. They listed several family dynamics, which made it difficult for them
to consider being reunited with their families. Participants felt that reunification with
families is done in too much of a hurry, before the family is socially and economically
ready to receive them back. However, participants expressed dissatisfaction on
dormitories and sleeping arrangements one participant summed up their views and
pointed out that
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