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The experiences of street children at community-based home schools

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / 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 surrounding
the counting of the street children.
Not all street children live on the streets permanently: many spend their days
there mainly for economic reasons earning an income, then spend their nights at
their homes or those of friends and relatives. Others go to the street as an
alternative to going to school or, in an effort to avoid parents or caregivers who
show 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 street
and that are part of community-based home schools, that are the focus of this
study. A· qualitative approach is used to establish the experiences of these
children in a residential area in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.
The study revealed the following:
• Community-based home schools provide children with basic
needs like food, clothing and importantly, a trusting
relationship with an adult.
• Children's lives are restored in a non-threatening environment,
assisting them to regain their dignity, establish healthier selfconcepts
as well as higher self-esteem. Once these basic needs are fulfilled, it became evident that
children are able to return to the experience of mainstream
school and in so doing face the world with renewed fervour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na beraming is daar omtrent 10 000 straatkinders in Suid Afrika. Daar word
gespekuleer dat die getal hoër kan wees as gevolg van die probleme met die tel
van straatkinders.
Nie alle straatkinders leef permanent op die strate nie. Baie spandeer hul dae op
straat slegs vir ekonomiese gewin waar hulle 'n inkomste verdien, en slaap
snags by hul huise óf by vriende óf familie. Ander leef op die straat as 'n
alternatief om skool toe te gaan. Hulle doen dit ook om hulouers of voogde te
vermy wat min aandag aan hulle skenk of wie die kinders forseer om geld op die
straat te verdien.
Dit is veral kinders wat nie permanent op die straat lewe nie, en deel is van
huisskole, wat die fokus is van hierdie studie. 'n Kwalitatiewe benadering is
gebruik om die ervarings van hierdie kinders in 'n gemeenskap in die noordelike
voorstede te bewerkstellig.
Die studie het die volgende getoon:
• Gemeenskapsgebaseerde huisskole voorsien kinders met die basiese
benodighede soos kos, klere en baie belangrik, die vertroue van 'n
verhouding met' n volwassene. • Die kinders se lewens word herstel in 'n omgewing wat nie bedreigend
is nie en wat hulle help om hul waardigheid te herwin en om 'n
gesonde selfkonsep en hoër selfbeeld te vestig.
• Wanneer hierdie basiese benodighede vervul is, het dit duidelik
geword dat hierdie kinders kon terugkeer na die hoofstroom-skool
ervaring en op hierdie manier kon hulle die wêreld met hernuwe ywer
aanpak.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52526
Date03 1900
CreatorsCleophas, Marcia Mirl
ContributorsSmit, A. G., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Education Policy Studies.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format87 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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