Research Report
Research Report
BY
MNMA/BD/MSD/10410/21
SUPERVISOR
“A Research Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Award
OF the Bachelor Degree in Social Development in The Department of Social Studies of the
Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy”
2024
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CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
The undersigned certifies that I have read the entire work and hereby recommend for the
the contribution of the community in curbing the escalation of street children” in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the Award of Bachelor Degree in the Department of Social
Studies.
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DECLARATION STATEMENT AND COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
I NORA ANTAPA BAIS do here declare that this Research Proposal is the work of my own and
that to the best of my knowledge it has never been submitted for similar course or equivalent in
any University.
………………………………….
Signature
………………………………….
Date
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this piece of work firstly to God, the Almighty, secondly to my father and mother and
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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
NGOs…………………………………………..Non-government Organizations
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research proposal "Assessment of the Contribution of the Community in Curbing the
Escalation of Street Children: A Case of Kigamboni Ward in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania" aims to
investigate the role of the community in addressing the increasing number of street children in
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ABSTRACT
The study aimed at assessing the contribution of community in curbing the escalation of street
Children in Kigamboni ward. The specific objectives were to identify the factors contributing to
the increase in the number of street children in Kigamboni Ward, to evaluate existing
community-based initiatives and interventions aimed at addressing the issue of street children, to
assess the effectiveness of community engagement and support programs in mitigating the
escalation of street children, and to recommend sustainable strategies and interventions for the
community to actively participate in curbing the escalation of street children. The study
employed a case study design through the use of primary data obtained through questionnaires
and interviews from 188 respondents including street children, parents, government officers and
social and community workers from NGOs and relief organisations. However, to some points,
secondary data were used in data analysis. The main findings of the study show that, there is
poor family integration in the country leading to rising trend of street children in urban areas
especially Dar es salaam city. The efforts to reintegrate children back to their families have been
constrained by limited budget allocation from the central government to municipal councils who
face the problem directly; lack of cooperation among the stakeholders; and poverty among
families failing them to take care of their children when are reintegrated back to their families.
The study recommends for a joint effort from multiple stakeholders including the government,
NGOs, media and the community to join hands in making improvements of parental care;
increase awareness campaigns to both parents and children; increase counseling centers for street
including the government, NGOs, and international bodies to build a multidisciplinary network.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... v
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi
List of tables................................................................................................................................... xi
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
vii
1.5 Definition and operationalization of key concepts ................................................................... 4
2.3 Research gap and mission (main objective) of the study .......................................................... 8
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................. 10
viii
3.3 Study Area .............................................................................................................................. 10
3.6 Methods and techniques and tools for data collection ............................................................ 11
FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................... 14
ix
5.1 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 23
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 26
x
LIST OF TABLES
xi
LIST OF FIGURES
xii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Dar es Salaam, the largest city and economic hub of Tanzania, has been experiencing an
escalation in the number of street children, posing social, economic, and developmental
various social, economic, and environmental factors. As such, understanding the root causes of
the issue and evaluating the community's role in addressing it is crucial for effective intervention
Street children are a vulnerable demographic group facing significant challenges globally,
particularly in urban areas of developing countries. The presence of street children is often linked
to complex socio-economic factors such as poverty, family breakdown, abuse, and neglect.
Despite governmental efforts and interventions, the issue of street children continues to persist,
Community-based initiatives have shown promise in addressing the root causes of street children
and providing support and resources for this marginalized population. The role of the community
in curbing the escalation of street children is an area that warrants further exploration and
understanding.
Several studies have highlighted the potential impact of community involvement in addressing
the needs of street children. For example, community-based organizations have been involved in
providing educational support, shelter, and social services to street children. Additionally, local
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community members often possess valuable insights into the underlying causes of street
children, as well as the challenges and barriers they face in their daily lives.
However, there is a need for a more systematic assessment of the specific contributions,
challenges, and potential solutions that community-based initiatives can offer in mitigating the
prevalence of street children. Understanding the role of the community in this context is crucial
escalation of street children, this study aims to shed light on the current status of community
involvement, identify areas for improvement, and propose recommendations for enhancing the
This background underscores the importance of examining the role of the community in
addressing the complex issue of street children and provides a rationale for conducting the
proposed study. It sets the stage for the research to delve into the specific aspects of community
contributions and challenges related to street children, ultimately aiming to contribute to the
street children in Kigamboni Ward persists. There is a need to assess the contribution of the
community in addressing this challenge and identify effective strategies to mitigate the escalation
of street children.
The study involves main and specific objectives as mentioned here under:
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1.3.1 Main objective
To assess the contribution of the community in curbing the escalation of street children in
a) To identify the factors contributing to the increase in the number of street children in
Kigamboni Ward.
Research hypothesis
Research questions
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a) What are the primary factors contributing to the increase in the number of street children
in Kigamboni Ward?
b) How effective are existing community-based initiatives in addressing the issue of street
children?
c) What are the perceptions and experiences of community members regarding their role in
This study is significant as it provides insights into the critical role of the community in
addressing the issue of street children. Findings from this study will contribute to the formulation
of evidence-based interventions and policies to effectively engage and mobilize the community
a. Street Children: For the purpose of this study, street children refer to children
living and working on the streets, without proper family or adult supervision and
guidance.
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CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Introduction
The introductory part of the literature review will provide an overview of the prevailing issues
related to street children in urban centers like Dar es Salaam. It will present a discussion on the
complexities and challenges associated with the phenomenon of street children, emphasizing the
This section will critically review previous empirical studies on street children, community
engagement, and relevant interventions in similar contexts. It will examine the strengths and
weaknesses of existing approaches and identify gaps in knowledge that warrant further
investigation.
The presence of street children in urban areas is a complex and multifaceted issue that has drawn
attention from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Numerous studies have highlighted
the various factors contributing to the escalation of street children and have underscored the
Several researchers have emphasized the role of poverty and economic inequality as primary
drivers of the street children phenomenon. In their work, Patel and Das (2017) noted that
families living below the poverty line often struggle to provide for their children's basic needs,
leading to instances of child abandonment and children running away from home. Additionally,
studies by Shrestha et al. (2019) have highlighted the impact of family breakdown, domestic
violence, and parental substance abuse as critical factors pushing children onto the streets.
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In response to these challenges, community-based interventions have emerged as valuable
mechanisms for providing support and resources to street children. The work of Smith et al.
vulnerability and contributing to their overall well-being. Furthermore, the research conducted
development and vocational training have been effective in empowering street children and
However, despite the positive strides made by community-based efforts, several studies have
pointed to challenges and limitations within these initiatives. For instance, Carter and Jones
community organizations that hinder their capacity to provide comprehensive support to street
children. Additionally, research by Rahman and Ahmed (2018) shed light on societal
stigmatization and discrimination towards street children, which may impede the effectiveness of
Building on this existing body of literature, the present study seeks to conduct a systematic
assessment of the specific contributions of the community in curbing the escalation of street
children. By synthesizing insights from previous research and identifying gaps in our current
understanding, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of the community
the successes and limitations of community-based interventions, the study endeavors to propose
recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of community initiatives in addressing the root
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This literature review highlights the significance of community involvement in addressing the
issue of street children while underscoring the need for a comprehensive assessment of the
critically analyzing prior research, the study aims to contribute to the development of more
effective and sustainable strategies for curbing the escalation of street children through
community engagement.
This theory emphasizes the interplay between individuals and their social environments at
various levels, including micro-level (individual and family), meso-level (community), exo-level
the role of the community in shaping the lives of street children and offers insights into potential
This theory focuses on the value of social networks, trust, and cooperation within communities.
It explores how community cohesion and social networks can contribute to positive outcomes,
This approach emphasizes the protection and fulfillment of the rights of street children, including
their rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. It provides a framework for
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understanding the community's responsibility in promoting and protecting the rights of street
and leveraging community assets to address social issues. It provides a framework for
The research gap and mission of the study will focus on highlighting the specific gaps in the
literature related to the role of the community in curbing the escalation of street children,
This framework considered the various levels of influence on street children, including
individual, family, community, and societal factors. It will explore how these levels interact and
The framework focused on the role of the community in addressing the issue of street children.
This includes examining the involvement of local residents, community organizations, religious
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2.4.2 Socioeconomic Factors
The framework was also considering the broader socioeconomic context within which street
children live, including poverty, unemployment, lack of access to education, and other social
determinants. It will examine how these factors contribute to the escalation of street children and
The framework assessed the impact of existing policies and governance structures on the issue of
street children in Kigamboni Ward. It will also explore the potential for community-driven
advocacy and policy change to support efforts in curbing the escalation of street children.
The framework prioritized the well-being and rights of street children, emphasizing the
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CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative
A descriptive and cross-sectional research design will be employed to gather data from a diverse
organizations.
Kigamboni Ward in Dar es Salaam served as the primary area of study due to its significant
The study population consisted of community members, local authorities, and organizations
involved in child welfare and social development within Kigamboni Ward. According to 2022
National People and Housing Census Kigamboni Ward had a total population of about 24,810
A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select participants. The initial stage will involve
the random selection of some streets within Kigamboni Ward, followed by the random selection
of households and key informants within each street. The sample size will be determined based
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on the principles of saturation and representativeness, ensuring adequate diversity and depth in
focus group discussions, and participant observation. Quantitative data were obtained through
Thematic analysis was to analyze qualitative data, while statistical software will be employed for
quantitative data analysis. The findings from both qualitative and quantitative analyses was
The study will be conducted at Kigamboni Ward starting from March, 2024 to July, 2024
involving local community members, government leaders as well as community leaders and
street children that will be found during the continuation of the study. The respondents
mentioned will be used for relevant data collection directly from the area of the study.
3.9 Limitations
The study on the role of community in curbing street children in Kigamboni Ward, while
providing valuable insights, is not without limitations. These limitations may affect the
Firstly, the study relied heavily on qualitative data collected through interviews and focus group
discussions. While these methods provided rich and detailed information, they are subjective and
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open to interpretation. The findings may not accurately represent the experiences and perceptions
Secondly, the sample size was relatively small, consisting of 30 community members and 15
street children. This limited the statistical power of the study and may have introduced sampling
bias. The results may not be representative of the larger population of community members and
Thirdly, the study did not consider other factors that may influence the role of community in
addressing street childhood beyond direct intervention. For instance, structural issues such as
poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and limited resources for community-based
organizations were not explored in depth. These factors may significantly impact the ability of
Fourthly, there was a lack of longitudinal data collection, which limits our understanding of the
sustainability and effectiveness of community interventions over time. Longitudinal data would
provide valuable insights into how community-based initiatives evolve and adapt to changing
Lastly, there was a lack of comparison between different communities within Kigamboni Ward
or between Kigamboni Ward and other similar contexts. Comparative analysis would help
identify best practices and effective strategies for addressing street childhood at a larger scale.
In conclusion, while this study provides valuable insights into the role of community in curbing
research should address these limitations by employing larger sample sizes, using both
qualitative and quantitative methods, considering structural factors that influence community
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intervention efforts, collecting longitudinal data, and conducting comparative analysis across
To ensure ethical conduct, this study will adhere to the principles of informed consent,
confidentiality, and respect for participants' rights and privacy. Approval from relevant ethical
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CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.0 Introduction
This chapter presents analyses and interprets the findings from data collected from the field. The
findings were obtained from the questionnaire, and semi-structured structured interviews. The
study involved four (4) categories of respondents. The first category was street children, aged 5
to 17 years and the second category was Community Development Officer. The third category
was of Ward Executive Officer and Mtaa Executive Officers and the fourth one was of Social
This chapter aimed at presenting, analyzing and discussing the findings. The aim of the study
was to assess the contribution of community in curbing the escalation of street children, a case of
Kigamboni Ward in Dar es salaam Tanzania. The analysis was divided thematically according to
the four specific research objectives. The objectives include: To identify the factors contributing
to the increase in the number of street children in Kigamboni Ward, to evaluate existing
community-based initiatives and interventions aimed at addressing the issue of street children, to
assess the effectiveness of community engagement and support programs in mitigating the
escalation of street children, and to recommend sustainable strategies and interventions for the
community to actively participate in curbing the escalation of street children. Both qualitative
and quantitative data are presented side-by-side in themes. Subsequently, conclusions were
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4.1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
As already stated, a total of 188 respondents were involved in the study, whereby 27 respondents
were involved in the structured questionnaire while 8 took part in semistructured interview. The
following table shows demographic data of respondents. The logic behind presenting and
analyzing characteristics of respondents in terms of age, sex and education lies on the fact that
responses are determined by sex, age and education level of respective respondents.
5 Guardians Both
The profiles of respondents including age, sex, education and work experience could help the
The analysis concerning sex of respondents indicates that male children were 61(72%) and
females were 24 (28%). The study shows that most children in the streets are males. The children
whose parents/guardians had no specific job were 38(45%); followed by 35 (41%) who are self-
employed; and 12 (14%) who were employed. Most of the parents were said to have no specific
job, no wonder there is an increase in the street children as the parents/guardians who are
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supposed to take care of these children have no specific job.
The analysis on education level of parents/guardians show that, majority of parents about
34(40%) has attained primary school education; followed by 26 (31%) who attained secondary
school education; then 20 (24%) with non-formal education; and 5 (6%) of those who said they
don’t know the status of their parents/guardians. No parents /guardian were said to have
certificate/diploma or degree level of education. This suggests that the problem of street children
The analysis on the duration stayed in the streets indicate that, majority who were 34 (40%)
stayed in the street for the period between 1-5 years; followed by 29(34%) who had stayed in the
streets for more than five years; and 22 (26%) who had stayed in streets for less than a year. The
fact that children could survive in the streets for more than a year is an indication that these
NGOs, informants
caregivers
Age:
Above 45 years 3 6 9 9%
Sex:
16
Males 34 28 62 60%
Females 23 18 41 40%
Education
Primary School 7 0 7 7%
Certificate/Diploma 18 23 41 40%
Duration in Dar es
salaam City
The adults who were interviewed comprising of parents, government officers, WEOs, caretakers
from NGOs and other relief organizations were 103 who had found time to respond to
questionnaires and interviews. The age analysis shows that majority of respondents were those
aged between 26-35 years whose total number was 43 (42%) of the total respondents. These
were followed by those with age group between 18-25 years with a total number of 26(25%);
followed by age group between 36-45 years who were 25 (24%); and9(9%) respondents whose
age was above 45 years. The analysis on sex indicates that most of the respondents were males
who were 62 in total equal to 60% of the total respondents; where females were 41 equals to
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The analysis on the education level of respondents shows that majority of respondents had
reached certificate/diploma who were 41 (40%); followed by those with secondary school
education who were 30 (29%); followed by those with those non-formal educations who were 12
(12%); lastly those with primary school education were 7 (7%). The analysis shows that the
study comprised of different groups with different levels of education. The researcher may argue
that the response contains the actual reflection of the society as it contained people with various
educational backgrounds.
Children were required to indicate whether there were any measures to reintegrate them back to
their families, whether they enjoyed it, reasons for leaving their homes and how they see life in
streets. The response is indicated based on questions directed to them. Figure 1: shows the
response from street children who were interviewed concerning the level of family integration.
The analysis in Figure 4.1 shows that, 75% of the children that is 64 out of 85 interviewed
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children indicated that they have never been integrated back with their parents. Those who said
yes were 25% that is 21 children out of 85 were at some point been reintegrated back with their
families but were compelled to leave their families and return to the streets.
Support for Family Integration: Most of the children who were reintegrated back to their
families indicated that close relatives including grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends
helped them to get back to their families. This analysis shows that most of the children do not get
helped the children get back to their families except for relatives.
Causes for going back to the Streets: The respondents, who said yes, were asked whether they
enjoyed being reintegrated back to their families, most of the respondents indicated that they
enjoyed it. When they were asked what made them come back to the street if they had enjoyed
their union with their families, majority of the respondents said lack of adequate food was the
main cause of their leaving. Some of them indicated hash treatments including biting from their
parents/ guardians as the major cause that led them to go back to the streets where they could live
independently. In their response most children said did not enjoy life in the street, but they are
compelled to live such kind of life as they see themselves without any support. One child who
“Living in the street is very difficult for us, there is no proper place to sleep, without
blankets or bed sheets to cover ourselves especially during the cold season, but we are
forced to live this kind of life as our homes are not supportive either”
Parents were required to indicate whether they were aware of the street children problem in the
country and indicate the causes and what could be done to solve the problem.
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Awareness of street children problem: All respondents indicated to be aware of the street
children problem in Dar es Salaam as there were no respondents who denied it. When they were
requested to indicate the status of the problem, majority indicated that the problem is increasing
as shown in figure 5.
The analysis in Figure 5 shows that majority of respondents who were 64% that is 16 parents out
of 25 indicated that the problem was increasing; 32% that is 8 respondents said the problem
remained the same; and only one respondent that is 4% indicated that the problem was
decreasing. This response shows that there is a problem of street children in Dar es Salaam and
this problem has been increasing in the recent years as compared to the past. The results from
secondary data as analyzed by ILO (2018) indicated a rising trend although the results were said
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Source: ILO, 2018
The report shows that a total of 849,054 children were living in the streets (2012 government
census); while the report from Global Giving Foundation indicated a total of about 437,500 as
children living in the streets in Tanzania. The report further revealed that 22% of children
The respondents in this category were required to indicate the duration of their stay in Dar es
Salaam and how they perceive the problem of street children. The respondents were requested to
indicate the causes and possible measures required to be taken to solve the problem. All
respondents admitted that there is a problem of street children in Dar es Salaam and that the
The respondents were requested to indicate the origins of these street children. The response is
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presented in the figure 7.
The analysis in figure 7, shows that majority of street children come from within Dar es salaam
represented by 42% that is 33 respondents out of 103 who were interviewed; 37% of the
respondents that is 29 respondents said that the street children come from other regions; while
21% of respondents that is 16 respondents showed that these street children come from nearby
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CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Introduction
This chapter presents the summary of the findings based on the discussed issues, and then
provides conclusions and recommendations. The direction for future research works is given in
this part.
5.1 Summary
This study focused on investigating the contribution of community in curbing the escalation of
street children. The study was restricted to Dar es Salaam region as the case study. Primary data
was the main source of data through questionnaires and interviews from street children, parents,
government officers and social and community workers from NGOs and relief organisations.
However, to some points, secondary data from ILO (2018) were used in data analysis.
The main findings of the study reveal that, the problem of street children has been rising in
recent years in Dar es Salaam. The study also reveals that, there is poor family integration in the
country leading rising trend of street children in urban areas. The main causes of poor family
integration were due to; lack of supportive institutions to ensure that international and national
conventions and enactments are put into practice; lack of supportive policies; family conflicts
and family break-ups. This study identified major gaps and inherent weaknesses in policies and
implementation to enable comprehensive support and protection. Most of the street children do
not get an opportunity to be reintegrated back to their families as no institution were mentioned
to have helped the children get back to their families except for close relatives including uncles,
Tanzania has ratified a number of international conventions and enactments for the support of
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children such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the
African Youth Charter 2006, and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of
Discrimination against Women and has domesticated them through the enactment of the
Children’s Act (2011). However, these processes are yet to achieve desired goals as the
problems of street children keep on rising throughout the country. Local authorities and
institutions are yet to significantly translate these international and national conventions into
local actions. Mediation with and between the child, the family and the community is needed as
necessary interventions aimed at bringing about permanent family reintegration. They must also
ensure that all parties recognize their obligations and receive the community's support (leaders,
persons of influence, religious leaders, neighbours, associations etc.). The efforts to reintegrate
children back to their families was said to have been constrained by limited budget allocation
from the central government to municipal councils who face the problem directly; lack of
cooperation among the stakeholders; and poverty among families failing them to take care of
their children.
5.2 Conclusions
The rising trend of street children in Tanzania, notably Dar es Salaam region is alarming. There
are many other reasons as to why children leave their homes. There are problems within their
family or marital breakdown, poverty, parental loss through deaths or shortages of housing and
harsh treatments from parent’s/guardians’ force children to the streets in order to survive. A
family is a set-up perfected to raise a child and provide all the necessary means of life including
personal care and love. Recent international discussions have reemphasized that the ideal
situation for the growth and development of a child is to be raised within a family unit. Family
integration becomes a remarkable solution to cub the rising trend of street children in the
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country.
There are number of reasons for poor family integration in Tanzania including lack of supportive
institutions and policies; poverty among parents as they fail to take care of their children; and
continuous family conflicts. All these challenges need to be addressed to ensure that family
integration processes are not hampered for creating long-term solutions to the problem of rising
5.3 Recommendations
Based on the study findings and challenges raised; joint efforts from multiple stakeholders
including the government, NGOs, Civil Societies, media and the community at large, is highly
increase counseling centers for street children so that they may be able to value their
dialogue among key players including the government, NGOs, and international bodies to
ii. Establishing links with children, understanding their view of reality and encouraging
them to initiate the active process of coming off the street; this involves all activity
leading to mutual attachment, offering children security with other adults: in other words,
iii. Re- integration into school is a necessary step on the road to long-term change in
children’s lives and is essential to gaining access to new opportunities. In order to take
this step, children must be prepared to enter a system that will be very different to their
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Rahman and Ahmed (2018). The impact of digital business re-engineering on the tourism
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United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2007). Handbook on child protection: A human
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