Challenges and Survival Strategies of Migrants from Hadiya Zone to Addis Ababa: the case of Shoe Shinning Children
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to assess the challenges and survival strategies of
migrant children from Hadiya Zone who are engaged in shoe shinning activity in the
Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa. The study further focused on the analysis of factors for
migration to Addis Ababa; the urban life challenges and shocks migrants face at the
destination and copping strategies, social relation and networks. In order to carry out
this study, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Instruments like
small explanatory questionnaire, in-depth interview, FGD, case study and observation
were widely employed. To this end, a total of fifty four migrants were selected using
snowball sampling technique. Thus, the data obtained from the participants was
narrated. In addition, quantitative data were collected and analyzed to triangulate the
qualitative data in descriptive forms. The study found out that children migration into the
study area is caused by different factors such as poverty, peer pressure, disagreement
with their families, death of parents, in search of education, and others. Migration of
rural children was aggravated due to the fact that rural parents are unable to provide
education and basic survival needs to their children. As a result, children are often
forced to give up school and migrate to the city in search of better employment in the
informal sector and they are also attracted by remittances from South Africa that pushed
them to leave their birth place. The study reveals that migrants have faced various
problems in their destination in the city. Some of the major constraints are poor access to
housing conditions and sanitation, lack of important utensils for their work, the problem
of latrine and quality water. Moreover, they are also highly affected by unexpected
increment of various costs due to inflation such as increasing price of food and house
rent. These constraints added with insecure wage exacerbated the vulnerability of these
children. To survive the most important strategies are their social networks and bonds.
Besides that reducing their meals, sharing apartments with colleagues, and relying on
each other’s help in times of scarcity are some of the mechanisms of reducing their
problems. In general, the study recommends that so as to improve their working
conditions, all stakeholders need to participate by providing necessary materials and
opening infrastructures that would assist migrants to facilitate their work
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Geography and Environmental Studies