A study to evaluate a street children preventive programme in Windhoek - Namibia

Abstract

Summary provided by author:

In 1996 Namibia started a preventive programme in Windhoek with a grant from the People's Republic of China. This programme is called the After School Centre and is on the corner of Rand street and Safari Street. The Centre is used to keep children who are schooling in Windhoek busy after school, thus preventing them from going in the streets. It is also used to provide some skills to street children who are/were living at the Interim Shelter. However there is a feeling that this Centre is being underutilized. To find out whether this is true or not this research has to be undertaken and the following has to be investigated such as the characteristics of street children, training of staff, the needs of children and resources available

To achieve the aims of this study the research design includes a literature review and an empirical study. The empirical study includes three groups of respondents such as children using the After School Centre, street children using both the centre and Interim Shelter where they are staying and the staff at the Centre

Methods of data collection used to carry out this study are self-administered questionnaire completed by respondents as well as scheduled structured interviews used by the researcher when respondents, are unable to complete the questionnaires themselves

Finally recommendations are made depending on the findings