Exploring conditions making street children in the rehabilitation centers return to the streets

Abstract

This study examines the conditions making Street Children in the Rehabilitation Centres return to the Streets; with specific reference given to Kampiringisa National Rehabilitation Centre (KNRC) in Uganda. The study employed simple random and purposive sampling to select forty-two children and two administrators from KNRC respectively as the study population. Questionnaire, interview guide and focus group discussions (FGDs) were applied to capture qualitative information. The findings indicate that the majority of the street children in Rehabilitation Centres are boys (78.6%) compared to girls (21.4%). These children lack basic formal education because majority of them dropped out of primary school. The study also found out that because the children are forcefully taken to rehabilitation centre, they later return to streets, because of inadequate food at KNRC. Others reasons include: looking for money, want freedom, mistreatment and harassment from fellow children, fear for being taken back to their villages and also relax scrutiny of children leaving the rehabilitation centre. The challenges faced by children living in streets included; lack of basic human needs, buttering/beating, sexual harassment and drug addiction. The strategies to avert the escaping of children from rehabilitation centre to return to street include capacity building, increased funding, monitoring and supervision, strengthen programme for psycho-socio support, coordination and cooperation of different actors. Future studies investigating the living conditions of children in rehabilitation centres are highly recommended.