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This study focused on the increase of street children in Mainland Tanzania and what
can be done to combat and prevent the problem. The study area was Ubungo
Municipality. Three specific objectives that guided the study are: to Identify factors
for the increase of street children in the community; to analyze strategies used by the
community to reduce street children in the study area; and to identify challenges
faced by street children in the study area. The sample size was 120 children, who
were collected from different places in Ubungo district but mainly at the Ubungo bus
terminal. Some qualitative information was collected from parents, and also from a
community development professional. Data was collected by the use of
questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. Findings showed that street
children increase is contributed with brutality and domestic violence in the family,
orphanage, poverty, peer groups, seeking for freedom and also seeking good life. The
challenges faced by street children in the study area included lacking necessary basic
needs such as food, and shelter, early sexual intercourse, abuse from among
themselves or from other community members, child labour, use and also selling of
drugs. Strategies used by the community to reduce street children involved food
support to poor families, provision of counseling support to children, and also the use
of NGOs and religious institutions as means to control the increase of children from
running to the streets. The study concluded that the increase of street children in
mainland Tanzania is a problem which needs serious response against it so as to
reduce the problem, because if it is left to continue it will be a disaster to the nation.It
was recommended that the government through the Ministry of Health, Community
Development, Gender, Elders and Children should increase attention towards street
children by granting soft loans to poor rural families so that they may be able to
establish small businesses that will enable them sustain life. NGOs should play their
role accordingly by raising their voice against abuses in the community, and also
applying their efforts in fighting against traditions that encourage excessive drinking
which leads to prostitution, hence causing orphans from HIV and AIDS. Religious
leaders must also use their positions to fill spirit to their followers so that they abide
by the teachings of their holly books that parents have to carry responsibility of
taking care of their kids for better growth. |
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