Understanding Streetism from the Street Children's Perspectives: a Qualitative Approach
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UNDERSTANDING STREETISM FROM THE STREET CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY BY GLADYS NOMUSA MASHICOLO BA ED; B.ED Hons. A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER EDUCATIONIS In Educational Psychology NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (VAAL TRIANGLE CAMPUS) SUPERVISOR: DR M.J. MALINDI (CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY- WELKOM) CO-SUPERVISOR: DR T.J. MAKHALEMELE (NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY-VAAL TRIANGLE CAMPUS) 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I give glory to God Almighty, who provided me with strength, wisdom and patience to succeed in this study. My supervisors, Dr Macalane Junel Malindi and Dr Thabo Jan Makhalemele, thank you very much for all your guidance, great supervision and expertise which made this study a success. God bless you. To the following people, thank you very much: My dear husband, for encouraging me and giving me undoubted support. Enkosi Jola! My wonderful parents, Mr Mbuyiselwa and Mrs Mathabo Msibi, who believe in me and are always there for me. My children, Mfuzo, Londeka, Sigqibo and Nyuleka. You are the best – all of you! You ensured that things were going at home well while I was busy with my research. Ukuzala ukuzelula. My dear friend, Thoko, for encouragements regarding this study. My colleague and study mate Lineo Molahlehi and her son, Reabetswe, thank you for your contributions. The care giver, staff and participants of the drop-in-centre, thank you all. My collegues, Ms Amohelang Thene and Mr Mphana, am gratefull for everything you assisted me with. To the librarian of North-West University, Mr Danny Moloto, and all the staff – thank you for all your assistance. Last, but not least,I extend my gratitude to Khomotso Bopape of Let’s Edit (Pty) Ltd for having done an excellent job by editing this work. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!! ii SUMMARY Streetism is a worldwide phenomenon. A number of studies have been conducted on streetism and street children yet little is known about the views of street children on streetism. Studies that focused on streetism explored what adults said about streetism, and not what street children said. This is where I located my study. The aim of my study was to understand streetism from the street children’s perspectives. This study was qualitative in nature and the draw-and-write technique was used to collect data. The draw-and-write technique involves the use of drawings accompanied by narratives that explain the drawing. The study involved 12 boys and 12 girls classified as children-on-the-street. Children-on-the-street typically “work” on the streets and return home in the evenings. I asked them to make drawings that depicted streetism and to write narratives in which they explained their drawings. After a thorough examination of the drawings and the narratives, the following themes were derived: street children were dealing with loss or the death of loved ones; they were experiencing lack of safety and security in their communities; they were experiencing violence and abuse in their families; they had future hopes, which help them cope with poverty; and they had religious faith. The literature that I studied mentioned some of the foregoing themes as risk factors to streetism, and some are referred to as resilience resources. To the participants, streetism entailed risk and a measure of well-being. Therefore, these findings contribute to theory and practice. The findings also suggest future research opportunities. Government, schools, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), communities, psychologists and social workers can use these findings to help children at risk. Keywords: Resilience; Risks; Protective Factors; Vulnerability; Streetism; Street Children iii v TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER ONE ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 1.2 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................1 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT .....................................................................................4 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION ......................................................................................4 1.4.1 Secondary questions ..........................................................................................5 1.5 AIM .......................................................................................................................5 1.5.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................5 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................6 1.6.1 Conceptual framework .......................................................................................6 1.6.2 Research paradigm ...........................................................................................12 1.6.3 Research design ...............................................................................................13 1.7 STRATEGY OF ENQUIRY .................................................................................14 1.8 PARTICIPATION SELECTION ..........................................................................14 1.9 DATA COLLECTION STRATEGIES ..................................................................15 1.9.1-Data collection process .....................................................................................16 1.9.2 Role of the researcher ......................................................................................17 vi 1.10 DATA ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................18 1.11 TRUSTWORTHINESS .......................................................................................19 1.11.1 Credibility ..........................................................................................................20 1.11.2 Transferability ...................................................................................................20 1.11.3 Dependability ....................................................................................................20 1.11.4 Confirmability ....................................................................................................21 1.12 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION .............................................................................21 1.12.1 Avoidance of harm ............................................................................................21 1.12.2 Voluntary participation .....................................................................................22 1.12.3 Informed consent ..............................................................................................22 1.12.4 Deception of the subject and/or respondents ................................................22 1.12.5 Violation of privacy/anonymity/confidentiality ..............................................22 1.12.6 Compensation ...................................................................................................23 1.12.7 Debriefing of the participants ..........................................................................23 1.12.8 Actions and competence of the researchers .................................................23 1.12.9 Cooperation with contributors and sponsors ................................................23 1.12.10 Publication of the findings .............................................................................24 1.13 DEFINITION OF CONCEPT ...............................................................................24 1.13.1 Streetism ............................................................................................................24 1.13.2 Street children ...................................................................................................24 vii 1.13.3 Resilience ..........................................................................................................25 1.13.4 Risks ..................................................................................................................25 1.13.5 Protective resources ........................................................................................25 1.13.6 Vulnerability ......................................................................................................25 1.14. PROPOSED LAYOUT OF THE STUDY ..............................................................26 1.15 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................27 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................28 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................28 2.2 THE CONCEPT OF STREETISM .......................................................................28 2.3 REASONS FOR MIGRATION OF CHILDREN TO STREETS ...........................32 2.4 THE IMPACT OF STREETISM IN STREET CHILDREN ...................................34 2.5 THE RIGHTS OF STREET CHILDREN .............................................................36 2.6 STREETISM IN SOUTH AFRICA .......................................................................40 2.7 INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK ON STREETISM ................................................42 2.7.1 African countries ..............................................................................................42