Street Children in Hawassa: Analysis of their Life Situation
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to explore the life situation of street children who live and
work on the street of Hawassa. The study mainly aimed at investigating the
factors contributed for streetism, survival strategies of street children, challenges
of street life and the present living and working condition of these children. To
better understand street children and to portray their everyday life situation
qualitative research method was employed as the sole technique of data
collection. Data pertinent to the study was gained through guided interview, Indepth
interview, focus group discussion and personal observation.
This study assumes children as competent social actors who have certain
freedom of choice and action. To this effect, the basic concept of structuration
theory, a theory concerned with the intersection between knowledgeable and
capable social agents and the wider social systems and structure in which they
implicate was employed as a theoretical framework to address the research
problem as well as to realize and interpret the situation of the studied group.
The findings of this research depict that every child has a reason for being on the
street. For some children, the street is an escape from domestic violence and
abuse. For others, the street is a means of survival in supplementing their
family's income and in fulfilling their basic necessities. Once children join street
life, they struggle to survive through undertaking a wide variety of activities
which mainly take place in the informal sector. Besides, as integral part of
survival strategy, street children interact with each other through multiple
networks and over the range of issues and concerns that constitute social life.
This social network serves as a buffer against vulnerability, shocks and
livelihood constraints on one hand. On the other, it is characterized by
hierarchies and unequal power relations between and among children of
different age sex which contribute to conflict and competition.
Life on the street is a tough reality. The living and working situation make up
street children vulnerable to various kinds of, physical, sexual, psychological,
and drug abuse. Accessibility to basic necessities like food, cloth, shelter, health
care and other services are also severely restricted to these children.
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Street Children in Hawassa::