In the spring of 2010, I worked with four street youths from Durban to create a short fictional film based on their lives. There were two main components to this project: first, a series of drama workshops and second, the film-making process. The filmmaking process consisted of the participants improvising scenes based on their street lives that I captured on film. This project engaged with Theatre for Development and Participatory Video practices. The young man who initiated this project did so because he wanted to change people’s perceptions of youths who lived on the streets. Additionally, he wanted to change his own perceptions of himself. The film provided baseline data regarding how the participants viewed themselves and their lives on the streets. Analysis of interviews conducted after the completion of the project, when compared with the baseline data, demonstrated social impacts that occurred as a result of making the film. This data was coded and interpreted using François Matarasso’s (1997) positive criteria for the social impact of participating in arts projects as well as corresponding negative categories that I generated. The film, once coded, demonstrated that the participants felt negatively about their lives on the streets, with many examples emerging from the categories Lack of Social Cohesion and Lack of Agency. In contrast, the interviews revealed positive social impacts across all categories, but especially in relation to Personal Development, Local Image and Identity, and Community Empowerment and Self-Determination (Matarasso 1997). The participants reported that they felt differently about themselves as a result of the project. They also said that there had been a change in the way some people treated them. Findings revealed that the film project resulted in positive social impacts on the street youth participants. As a result of the film, they engaged in critical thinking and reflection related to Paulo Freire’s (1970) notion of praxis. They also wished for changes in their lives and in some cases enacted change. It was significant that social impacts and change extended to youths in difficult circumstances. In conclusion, this research proved that participating in the film project broadened and enriched the lives of the participants. Problems arose in terms of sustainability. Further projects and research are needed to establish the possible impacts from longterm and sustainable arts projects on youths from the streets. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The aim of this investigation was threefold : to determine origins and perceptions of the street child problem nationally and internationally ; to explore the way in which children experience life in the streets ; and to devise strategies to enable these children to develop optimally. Literature indicates that the street child phenomenon is a global issue that presents many challenges. It is a socio-educational problem precipitated by multi-factorial events in the home, community and by children's personality attributes. Street children experience rejection, suffering, shame and anxiety. Deprivation of an environment conducive to positive development leads to maladjustment, anti-social behaviour and marginalisation. The empirical research was undertaken by means of semi-structured interviews conducted among fourteen children of the Khayalethu shelter and by administering questionnaires in the community of Port Shepstone. The findings culminate in recommendations for suitable assistance programmes and strategies to handle the problem in South Africa. / Educational Studies / M.Ed.(Socio-Education)

O estudo investigou qualitativamente a vulnerabilidade às DSTs e ao HIV/aids em adolescentes que vivem na rua e estão envolvidas com a prostituição juvenil, com o uso de drogas e com a violência.Foram atendidas sete adolescentes, em entrevistas abertas e semi-dirigidas, apresentadas em bola de neve por informantes chaves.Observou-se que alguns dos motivos que levaram à prostituição dizem respeito à violência na família, a curiosidade em relação à rua, a afirmação de sua sexualidade, ao abuso de drogas e a precária situação econômica de suas famílias. Todos esses fatores associados aumentaram a sua vulnerabilidade e as distanciaram dos programas de saúde existentes. Assim, faz-se necessário a criação de estratégias que visem a busca ativa e a inserção de cada uma delas, respeitando cada singularidade / This quantitative study investigated vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among adolescents who live on the streets and are involved in prostituition, drugs and violence. A total of seven respondents were recruited using key informants and snowball sampling, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings highlighted that domestic violence, curiosity, assertion of sexuality, drug abuse and deprived socio-economic conditions of families were among the factors increasedindividuals vulnerability and prevent them from using existing health programmes. Hence, there is a need for strategies involving outreach work and that take into account individuals singularities

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:04:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Normalene.pdf: 588886 bytes, checksum: 3090a8c90505672a56b048b410f97809 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-03 / In this inquiry, we sought for answers to some questions about social adjustment process for children and adolescents in street situation, especially for female adolescents that had found alternatives for a better quality of life out of the treets. The main objective was to analyze the meaning for social adjustment; to identify the institutional pedagogic programs in the social adjustment process; and to analyze the meaning of the social adjustment and the consequences to female adolescents that lived in street situation. The method has qualitative approach by Oral Live History principles. The data was collect by semi structured interview and participant observation with eight adolescents from 16 to 24 years old, with previous history of life in streets, and analyzed by content analysis thematic modality background. The results was organized and presented through the following categories: 1) coming to street; 2) living in street; 3) life beyond the street. In accordance with the subjects, the social adjustment process occurred in pregnancy consequence. However, the awakening of new live perspectives occurred due significant persons in a specific sheltering institution and the pedagogical actions there developed that accompany, motivate and articulate the values of these persons in the whole process. Therefore, by the oral history of life it was possible to identify the subject course of life, its social adjustment in the recuperation process and the Public Health Nursing possibilities for caring in this process of social adjustment / Nesta investigação buscamos responder algumas inquietações ao que se refere ao processo de resgate de crianças e adolescentes em situação de rua, em especial meninas que buscaram alternativas para melhor qualidade de vida fora das ruas. Os objetivos foram: analisar o significado de reintegração social; identificar as ações pedagógicas da instituição no processo de reintegração social; conhecer o significado e o impacto da recuperação social para meninas com experiência de vida nas ruas. A metodologia é de natureza qualitativa com base nos princípios da História Oral de Vida. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, observação participante e diário de campo, junto a oito adolescentes entre 16 e 24 anos de idade, que tenham tido experiência pregressa de vida nas ruas, e analisados segundo a proposta da análise de conteúdo modalidade temática. Os resultados foram organizados e discutidos em três categorias temáticas, 1) a vinda para a rua; 2) a vida na rua; e 3) a vida além da rua. De acordo com as narrativas dos sujeitos o processo de recuperação e re-inserção social ocorreu em decorrência da gravidez. Entretanto, o despertar de novas perspectivas de vida ocorreu devido à presença de pessoas significativas de uma instituição, e as ações pedagógicas ali desenvolvidas que motivam, articulam e potencializam os valores destas pessoas em todo o processo. Portanto, pelas histórias orais de vida foi possível identificarmos a trajetória de vida dos sujeitos, a sua inclusão social no processo de recuperação, e o papel do profissional de enfermagem de saúde pública para o cuidado neste processo

In America, it is estimated that between 500,000 and two million children run away each year. A majority of these runaways become involved with illegal substance abuse. This study questions whether children experience substance abuse prior to their running away or if their substance abuse is an attempt to cope with the new stressors created by street life. Data collection will include having 50 volunteers complete a questionnaire, with consideration of race and gender. The findings suggested that no relationship exist between runaways engaging in drug use and the amount of stress experienced at home or during the runaway.

No description available.

Contexte: Les problèmes de santé mentale émergent majoritairement chez les adolescents et jeunes adultes. Les jeunes en situation d’itinérance (JSI) ont d’importants besoins non-comblés en lien avec leur santé mentale et ce possiblement davantage pour les jeunes de minorités linguistiques (JML). Objectifs: Décrire les facteurs associés aux expériences d’accès aux services de santé mentale chez les JSI, en comparant les expériences des jeunes de majorité linguistique (francophones) aux JML (anglophones et allophones). Méthodes: 22 jeunes de 18 à 25 ans ont participé à la cartographie communautaire, méthode de recherche qualitative utilisant les arts, où les participants ont créé leurs cartes des ressources d’aide en santé mentale. Des groupes de discussion ont permis aux jeunes d’exprimer leurs perceptions de l’accès et des services. Les résultats sont générés par une analyse thématique. Résultats: Les facteurs liés aux expériences d’accès aux services se regroupent en deux catégories: (1) des soins adaptés à l’individu, et (2) la disponibilité et la structure des services. Les JSI veulent des services adaptés aux besoins spécifiques des JSI et des minorités (incluant les JML), avec une approche centrée sur les besoins de l’individu. Les JML identifient moins de diversité de services et se tournent vers des stratégies alternatives de soins ou des services itinérance adulte. Conclusion: Des services co-localisés et intégrés, répondant aux besoins de base et de santé mentale, permettraient de diminuer les obstacles à l’accès aux soins pour les JSI. Une attention particulière aux JML est nécessaire puisqu’ils rencontrent davantage d’obstacles que leurs pairs JSI. / Background: Most mental illnesses begin in youth. The homeless youth population reports a high level of unmet mental health needs; a situation which is possibly worse for linguistic minority homeless youths. Objectives: To describe the factors associated with homeless youths’ experiences of accessing mental health services and to highlight differences in such experiences between linguistic majority (Francophones) and linguistic minority (Anglophones and Allophones) groups. Methods: 22 youths between 18 to 25 years old participated in community mapping, an arts-based qualitative research method in which participants draw maps of resources they use to receive help with their mental health. Discussion groups enabled youths to express their emotions and perceptions towards access and services. Thematic analysis was user on verbal and visual data. Results: Factors associated with of access to mental health services were grouped into two categories: (1) care adapted at the individual level, and (2) availability and structure of services. Homeless youths need services that are adapted to the specific needs of homeless youths and minorities (including linguistic minorities), with an approach to care centered on an individual’s needs. Linguistic minority homeless youths identify less diversity in services and often turn to informal mental health strategies or to adult-oriented homeless services. Conclusion: Services that are co-located and integrated with mental health and basic needs services help bypass a lot of identified barriers to care for homeless youths. Particular attention needs to be paid to linguistic minority homeless youths as they experience more barriers than their counterparts.

No description available.

Street children are present in every metropolitan city around the world. Their presence has provoked varied responses from academics, the media and others. However, despite the proliferation of responses, current solutions are not always commensurate with the resources expended in this area. Are current responses a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Following the precedence established by other researchers and calls for greater reflexivity, this study attempts to provide a critical analysis of selected South African writings on and about street children. Particular focus is accorded to how selected academic and popular writings construct street children. The specific aim is to facilitate an examination of the underlying discourses that inform South African writings on street children. The role that academic and popular writings fulfil in selectively maintaining the status quo over which their authors sometimes voice disapproval is also examined. Wherever possible the origins of such discourses and the powers that maintain them are referred to. The extent to which the discourses evident in writings on South African street children converge with the dominant discourses present in developmental psychology as a whole are reviewed. The complimentary techniques of transformative inquiry and discourse analysis are at the heart of the methodology in this study. As an analytical tool discourse analysis is used to deepen current understanding of perceptions of street children. Discourse analysis helps to chart the underlying discourses drawn on in texts and shows how writings have influenced, intentionally or otherwise, the perceptions of subjects of research. Transformative enquiry as a significant · complimentary, albeit implicit, feature of discourse analysis enables a reflection on the research process itself. Four main discourses are discussed, each of which is centred around several sub-discourses. The first discourse, "He who pays the piper calls the tune" involves an objectification of street children, conveying negative' images of street children. The second discourse, "St. Jude the Patron Saint of Lost Causes" is rooted in the ideas of hopelessness, helplessness, victimology and ubiquitousness. The third discourse, "natured versus nurtured" is located in ideas of biological determinism within which street children are described as bestial, abnormally sexual, inherently racially inferior and unresponsive to initiatives designed to provide shelter for them. The fourth discourse, "Us and them cum us against them" arises from ideas that view street children as inherently different to mainstream children and adults, thereby pitting street children against society at large and representing them as enemies. These four interrelated discourses ultimately converge to produce both enabling and constraining effects that are sometimes contradictory in nature. Discourses intended to render street children visible sometimes ironically make them and their plight invisible. The study is concluded with discussions of methodological limitations, suggestions for future investigation and the pyscho-emotive shifts I experienced during the research process. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

No description available.