Streetism among children in Atimpoku, Ghana implications for counselling

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.