Abstract:
The study explored streetism among children in Atimpoku in the Easten Region of
Ghana adopting the qualitative phenomenological design. Fifteen participants were
selected using purposive sampling technique. Interview guide was used for data
collection. Data were analysed in themes. The study found that family break-up, fear
of being punished, poverty, lack of parental care and control and child abuse were the
key reasons children in Atimpoku take to streetism. Attacks by thieves, arrest by the
police, street accidents, spiritual attacks and attack by colleagues were social
challenges street children in Atimpoku faced. Truancy, frequent illness lack of
accommodation, lack of basic needs of life and unmet love and affection from friends
and family members were the personal challenges faced by street children in
Atimpoku. Receiving assistance from colleagues, parents, caregivers, asking for alms,
self-medication, use of drugs and drinking of alcohol were coping strategies street
children in Atimpoku used to manage their plight. It was concluded that children in
the street of Atimpoku were supposed to have been in school, acquiring the needed
knowledge and skills that would enable them to become responsible future leaders.
Children in the street of Atimpoku and their life style as well as the problems they
encountered signify that streetism is a social problem that needs to be solved. It was
recommended that the Government should partner with Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) who work to address issues of child streetism to establish
training centers. These centers will serve as places where children would be kept and
be provided with education and employable skills training such as: ICT, hair dressing
shoe making, beads making, fashion designing, carpentry and even formal education
among others. These skills could equip them for the job market than being on the
streets. The Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with chiefs and opinion
leaders, counsellors and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should put their
resources together to mobilize community members in Atimpoku and sensitize them
on the consequences of child streetism.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Counselling Psychology,
Faculty of Educational Studies, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the Degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Counselling Psychology)
in the University of Education, Winneba
MAY, 2022