Self-reliance

A response to early childhood trauma among street children

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which family environment influences children’s behavior and how an evening of parents serves as a platform for rehabilitating the family environment, preventing and decreasing street children's number. This descriptive study intends to create awareness of the prevention and reintegration of street children. Researchers purposively selected 58 respondents: 40 street children, 12 parents, and 6 local leaders. Data were collected through interviews, storytelling, and focus group discussions and qualitatively analyzed using content analysis. Results revealed domestic violence, identity crisis, born from sex workers, children abuse, poor parenting, and poverty to be factors contributing to street children as emphasized by 100% of children, 87% of local leaders, and 67% of parents. Street children can only be controlled if major stressors that push them to develop self-reliance are socially and economically addressed. It was revealed that the Evening of Parents is a platform of family transformation to successfully prevent and rehabilitate street children focusing on parents’ responsibilities towards children’s wellbeing and better future.