'n Verkennende ondersoek na maatskaplikewerkprogramme vir straatkinders

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to gain insight into social welfare programmes for street children. Inorder to achieve this, a literature study was undertaken to explore social welfareprogrammes for street children and to describe street children as a social phenomenon. Anempirical study was undertaken by means of interviewing through a structuredquestionnaire.The study indicates that the majority of street children have contact with their parents. Thestreet children are mostly males between 13 and 16 years of age. The dominant socioeconomicaspects contributing to this social phenomenon are housing problems,unemployment and a lack of means. The following socio-cultural aspects were identified: thecomposition of the family, social pathology as well as an absent father figure. The majority ofthe street children have limited education and were not encouraged to continue theireducation.It was found that the street children and their families did not take part in preventionprogrammes that focus on the direct causes of family disintegration and support services.Welfare organisations had been involved with the majority of the families even before thechildren moved to the streets. The street children have the necessary knowledge regardingoutreach programmes and take part in such programmes. It was found that street childrenwould like to contribute to the compilation of these programmes. The study indicates thateducational as well as occupational and vocational programmes are experienced as anopportunity for self-maintenance. It was found that the majority of street children do not wantto return to their families and seek alternative care.It was concluded that street children come from families that do not have definite boundariesand structures. The majority of the street children do not experience their family setup aspleasant. The children developed insight into the correlation between education and selfimprovementonly after they had left school. The needs of street children can be divided intotwo categories, namely the need for self-development and the need for better familycircumstances.Recommendations are made regarding social welfare service

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University