The experiences of street children at community-based home schools

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:There are an estimated 10 000 children in and around the streets of South Africa,with the speculation that this could be higher, given the difficulties surroundingthe counting of the street children.Not all street children live on the streets permanently: many spend their daysthere mainly for economic reasons earning an income, then spend their nights attheir homes or those of friends and relatives. Others go to the street as analternative to going to school or, in an effort to avoid parents or caregivers whoshow little interest in their lives, or who force them onto the street to earn money.It is particularly children that have not become permanent residents of the streetand that are part of community-based home schools, that are the focus of thisstudy. A· qualitative approach is used to establish the experiences of thesechildren in a residential area in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.The study revealed the following:• Community-based home schools provide children with basicneeds like food, clothing and importantly, a trustingrelationship with an adult.• Children's lives are restored in a non-threatening environment,assisting them to regain their dignity, establish healthier selfconceptsas well as higher self-esteem.Once these basic needs are fulfilled, it became evident thatchildren are able to return to the experience of mainstreamschool and in so doing face the world with renewed fervour.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University