The Situation and Survival Strategies of Female Street Children in Addis Ababa FORUM ON ...

106 Pages·2003·0.28 MB·English

The Situation and Survival Strategies of Female Street Children in
Addis Ababa

FORUM ON STREET CHILDREN-ETHIOPIA IN
COOPERATION WITH RADDA BARNEN (SWEDISH SAVE
THE CHILDREN)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1998

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The Situation And Survival Strategies Of Female Street Children
In Addis Ababa

By
Abeje Berhanu

Submitted To Forum On Street Children-Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
September 1998

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was commissioned by Forum on Street Children - Ethiopia. It represented part
of the organization's keen interest in promoting the case and cause of street children in
Ethiopia. I greatly appreciate the support and commitment shown by the staff of Forum to
this study. In particular, special thanks is to Ato Amakelew Cherkosie, Head, Child
Research and Resource, for his efficient administration of the financial aspect of this
study and for his invaluable help in arranging data collectors.

On behalf of Forum on Street Children-Ethiopia, I would like to thank the two research
assistants, Ato Fisseha Negash and Belay Zelleke, who were responsible for supervising
and coordinating the data collection activities. They also devoted their time and energy in
summarizing the results of the five focus-group discussions. Great appreciation is also
due to the five data collectors, Ato Michael Abebe, W/t Mistere, Ato Tesfaye Ayalew,
Ato Kidus Dawit and Alemayehu Meherete, whose previous experience with street
children made the data collection procedures as smooth a task as possible.

Last but not least, I am greatly indebted to the two reviewers, Professor Andargatchew
Tesfaye and Ato Woldeab Teshome, Department of Sociology and Social Administration,
Addis Ababa University. I have been particularly helped by Professor Andargatchew
Tesfaye, who provided very useful detailed comments and suggestions on the substance
and phraseology of the final draft of this report.

Of course, none of them share the responsibility for what I have said in this report.

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Table of Content

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...................................................................................................3
Table of Content..................................................................................................................4
List of Tables.......................................................................................................................6
Executive Summary.............................................................................................................8
Introduction......................................................................................................................8
Background and Justification of the Study......................................................................8
Objectives of the Study....................................................................................................9
Sample Design...........................................................................................................10
Administration of Research Instruments...................................................................10
Method of Analysis....................................................................................................11
Findings.........................................................................................................................12
Recommendations......................................................................................................13
CHAPTER I.......................................................................................................................16
The Situation and Survival Strategies of Female Street Children in Addis Ababa...........16
1.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................16
1.2 Background and Justification of the Study..............................................................17
1.3 What is a Street Child?............................................................................................17
1.4 Objectives of the Study............................................................................................18
1.5 Research Methodology............................................................................................19
1.5.2 Procedure..........................................................................................................21
1.5.3 Sample Design..................................................................................................21
1.5.4 Administration of Research Instruments..........................................................22
1.4.2 Focus-Group Discussion...................................................................................23
1.5.5 Problems Encountered......................................................................................24
1.5.6 Method of Analysis...........................................................................................25
CHAPTER II.....................................................................................................................26
2.1 The State of Street Children....................................................................................26
2.2 The Female Street Child: A Special Category of Street Children...........................28
2.3 Background to the Research Site 2.3.1 Administrative Division............................30
2.3.2 Population.........................................................................................................30
2.3.3 Ethnicity, Religion, Marital Status and Literacy..............................................30
2.3.4 Housing and Related Services..........................................................................31
2.3.5 The Situation of Poverty...................................................................................31
CHAPTER III....................................................................................................................32
Data Presentation, Analysis and Discussion......................................................................32
3.1 Respondents' Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics...........................32
3.1.1 Age and Ethnicity.............................................................................................32
3.1.2 Education and Sources of Earnings...........................................................33
3.2 Respondents' Family Background and Related Characteristics...............................34
3.2.1 Family Attributes..............................................................................................34
3.2.3 Employment and Income of the Respondents' Family.....................................36
3.3 Respondents' Access to Community Services.........................................................39
3.4 Street Life Situations: Private Encounters and Public Concerns.............................41
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3.4.1 Personal Feelings about the Street....................................................................43
3.4.2 Livelihood and Other Related Activities..........................................................45
3.4.3 Constraints and Opportunities of Street Trading..............................................47
3.4.5 Risk Reduction Strategies.................................................................................51
3.4.6 Sexual Activities of Respondents.....................................................................52
3.4.7 Attitudes towards their Surroundings...............................................................54
3.4.8 Involvement in Anti-social Activities...............................................................56
3.4.9 Future Plans and Prospects...............................................................................57
3.5 Respondents' Views on their Future Preferences and Expectations........................59
3.5.1. Background Variables and Future Preferences................................................59
3.5.2 Background Variables and Future Expectations...............................................60
3.5.3 Situational Variables and Future Preferences...................................................61
3.5.4 Situational Variables and Future Expectations.................................................62
3.6.1 General Demographic and Educational Characteristics...................................63
3.6.2 General Assessment of Street Life and Feelings of Family Reunion...............64
3.6.3 Things, Good or Bad, Learned from the Street................................................64
3.6.4 Co-operative Activities among Female Street Children...................................65
3.6.5 Measures to be Taken to Improve the Living Conditions Street Girls.............66
3.6.6 Risk Reduction Mechanisms ............................................................................67
3.6.7 Opportunities to Expand Street Activities........................................................67
3.6.8 Comparative View of Street and Non-Street Children.....................................68
3.7 Parents' Views of Female Street Children...............................................................69
3.7.1 Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics of Parents 3.7.1.1 Sex and
Age.............................................................................................................................70
3.7.2 Perceptions about Street Children....................................................................72
3.8 Views of Professionals and Police about Female Street Children...........................73
CHAPTER IV....................................................................................................................77
Discussion, Summary and Recommendation....................................................................77
4.1 Discussion and Summary........................................................................................77
4.2 Recommendations....................................................................................................79
References..........................................................................................................................82
APPENDIX I .....................................................................................................................84
Survey Instrument..........................................................................................................84
II. Family Situation........................................................................................................86
III. Community Characteristics.....................................................................................89
IV. Street-Life Characteristics.......................................................................................91
V. Intentions and future Plans.......................................................................................99
VI. Interviewer's Own Observation.............................................................................101
APPENDIX II..............................................................................................................102
Focus-Group Discussion..............................................................................................102
APPENDIX III.............................................................................................................103
Appendix IV................................................................................................................106

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List of Tables
Table: 1 Percentage Distribution of Respondents' Ethnicity and Age...............................32
Table: 2 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Place of Origin and Level of
Education...................................................................................................................33
Table: 3 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Family Status and Parental
Situations ...................................................................................................................34
Table: 4 Percentage Distribution of Respondents' Parents/Relatives by Education..........35
Table: 5 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by their Mothers' Education and Current
Schooling Status ........................................................................................................36
Table: 6 Percentage Distribution of Respondents' Families by Type of Employment and
by Principal Income Earner.......................................................................................37
Table: 7 Percentage Distribution of Respondents' Families by Type of Employment and
Average Monthly Income..........................................................................................37
Table: 8 Respondents' Families Average Monthly Income by Principal Income Earner..38
Table: 9 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Principal Income Earner and
Member Working/Living in the Street......................................................................39
Table: 10 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by their Families' Housing Situation.39
Table: 11 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Community Services
Available in the area..................................................................................................40
Table: 12 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Family Member Participating in
Community Based Organisations..............................................................................41
Table: 13 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Present Living Conditions and
Length of Stay in the Street.......................................................................................42
Table: 14 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Age at which Street Life Started
and by Feelings about the Streets..............................................................................43
Table: 15 Percentage of Distribution of Respondents' by Reasons for Starting Street
Life and by Place of Origin.......................................................................................44
Table: 16 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Types of Income Generating
Activities and by Level of Street Involvement..........................................................45
Table: 17 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Types of Street Activities and
Estimated Amount of Daily Income..........................................................................46
Table: 18 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Estimated Average Daily Income
and Amount Spent .....................................................................................................46
Table: 19 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Average Daily Income and Purpose
for Which it is Used...................................................................................................47
Table: 20 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Problems they encounter
while Working/Living in the Street...........................................................................48
Table: 21 Do you think working/living in the street is risky?.......................................49
Table: 22 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Risks..............................50
Table: 23 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Risk-Averting Strategies
Used...........................................................................................................................51
Table: 24 Percentage Distribution of Sexually Active Respondents by Place of Origin
and Age......................................................................................................................52
Table: 25 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Types of Sexual Abusers and
Level of Street Involvement......................................................................................52
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Table: 26 Respondents who had Abortion Cases by Frequency of Abortion and Place
Where Abortion was Performed................................................................................53
Table: 27 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Birth Control Methods
Used...........................................................................................................................54
Table: 28 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Some of the Things they Like or
Dislike........................................................................................................................55
Table: 29 Distribution of Respondents by Number of Arrests and Reasons for the
Arrests 56
Table: 30 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by Types of Assistance Requirements
...................................................................................................................................57
Table: 31 Distribution of Respondents by Types of Future Plans.....................................58
Table: 32 Frequency Distribution of Respondents by their Future Inclinations...............58
Table: 33 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Background Variables and their
Future Preferences.....................................................................................................60
Table: 34 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Selected Background Variables and
Future Expectation.....................................................................................................61
Table: 35 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Situational Variables and Future
Preferences.................................................................................................................62
Table: 37 Percentage Distribution of Parents by Sex and Age......................................70
Table: 38 Frequency Distribution of Parents by Ethnic Background ............................70
Table: 39 Frequency Distribution of Parents by Education...............................................71
Table: 40 Percentage Distribution of Parents by Marital Status and Average Number of
Children.....................................................................................................................71
Table: 41 Percentage Distribution of Parents by Means of Livelihood and Estimated
Average Monthly Income..........................................................................................72

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Executive Summary
Introduction

In 1974 only 49 out of 5004 street children in Addis Ababa were girls (MOLSA, 1974).
However, after 20 years the proportion of female street children to the total street
children population appears to have increased dramatically. In 1993 a survey of 1000
street children was carried out by MOLSA/UNICEF in four major towns (namely Addis
Ababa, Nazareth, Bahir Dar and Mekele), and the survey revealed that female street
children represented 24 % of the sampled population (MOLSA/UNICEF, 1993). Another
national survey on street children was conducted by Ministry of Labour and Social
Affairs OLSA), and females made up of 25 % of the total 10,000 street children studied
throughout the country (MOLSA, 1995). At present, the average density of female street
children, expressed as percent of female street children in the total street children
population, is estimated to be 10 %. This means that one out of every 10 street children is
a female. It seems true that female streetism (understood to mean the life style of female
street children), or child streetism for that matter, is largely an urban phenomenon.

As far as streetism is concerned, the urban environment appears to offer no greater
protection for females than it does for males (Jensen et al. 1995). Of course, traditionally
a girl is expected to spend much of her time and energy on activities that are confined to
the domestic unit. Public opinion and normative constraints were also strong enough to
keep girls within the "home." But today social conditions and economic necessities,
under a changing urban environment, are forcing more and more female children to be
initiated daily into street life. Many of them, however, are engaged in activities that
generate incomes and services for their maintenance of their families and themselves.
These activities include such "marginal economies" as retailing goods and small services,
shoe shinning, car washing and watching, taxi attendance, and begging.

Background and Justification of the Study

The problem of child streetism, female streetism in particular, is a relatively recent
phenomenon. It is associated with the growth of urban centres and aggravated by
drought, famine and war. These factors, by deepening the extent of poverty in the
country, have been contributing to the displacement of rural families and communities.

The prevailing low levels of living in the country in general and in urban centres in
particular are pushing children of the urban poor to the streets. These low levels of living
are manifested quantitatively and qualitatively in the form of extremely low incomes,
higher levels of unemployment, proliferation of road-side plastic homes, beggary,
prostitution and homelessness. In 1994, for example, 35 percent of the economically
active population was considered to be unemployed (Population and Housing Census,
1994), and Addis Ababa, being the political, economic and cultural centre of the country,
is the home of 5, 962 homeless people. A survey conducted in selected areas of Addis
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Ababa in 1992 also indicated that about 60 to 70 percent of the population in Arada,
Addis Ketema, Teklehaimanot, Kirkos and Kolfe did not have the minimum level of
subsistence income necessary to secure the basic physical needs of food, clothing and
shelter (Solomon, 1993).

This study focuses on the situation of female street children in Addis Ababa because they
represent a special group of street children, who are most affected by the worsening
condition of poverty in the city. Studying how female street children are initiated into
street life, how they work and live in the streets, and their future plans contributes to
understanding the problem of female street children. The study provides qualitative and
quantitative information that can be used for the designing of female street children
oriented projects.

Objectives of the Study

A more practical approach to the problem of female street children would have to involve
understanding and explaining their problems, and finding ways and means of helping
them realise their potential for a sustainable childhood development. In particular, the
study has the following specific objectives:

• to assess contextual factors contributing to female streetism,
• to examine the various encounters of female street children while working/living in
the streets,
• to describe the different income generating activities performed by female street
children,
• to explore the various risk-aversion strategies employed by female street children, and
• to examine their present views about life in the street and their future plans. Research
Methodology

Since the primary purpose of this research is to generate data relevant to the design and
implementation of female street children-driven programs, the participatory approach is
used. As aptly put by Ennew (1994, 35), "'participation' means that children [street
children] are encouraged and facilitated to analyse their situation, decide what the priority
problems are and suggest solutions." Therefore, female street children are the main
source of information.

Major data generating instruments include:

• Survey questionnaire
• Individual interviews
• Informal talks
• Street ethnography
• Focus-group discussion

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Through "focus-group discussion" an attempt was made to learn about conscious,
semiconscious and unconscious socio-cultural and psychological processes underlying
the life of female street children. "The advantage of focus group discussions is that they
can give an idea about what the general opinion is among a wide group of people at any
time" (Ennew, 1994, 65). Children in a peer group situation are also likely to actively
participate in discussions, who often talk more freely and expressively than alone with a
stranger, such as an interviewer.

Sample Design

The units of analysis of this study consist of female street children, their parents/relatives,
persons who closely work with female street children and institutions that undertake
various programs related to street children.

The selection of the sample population was based on convenience or opportunistic
sampling. This procedure is an acceptable method of gathering data in situations where it
is difficult to construct a sampling frame that contains a complete list of all individuals.
Experience of researchers from India, as quoted in Ennew (1994, 75)' illustrates this case:

Since the street children keep on moving it would have been very difficult to prepare any
sampling frame, out of which to select the desired sample applying principles of random
method. Instead, the places where the children were generally found were selected. There
is no way by which the representative nature of the sample can be verified except to say
that the children have been selected from a very wide variety of job situations, which may
ensure a good representation.

It is a handy research tool which enables the researcher to map out the places where street
children usually hang out. This procedure also saves a good deal of time and money
(Bailey, 1987).

Administration of Research Instruments

Two research assistants and five interviewers were employed to collect information using
a survey questionnaire. While the research assistants served as supervisors of the survey
questionnaire, the interviewers were responsible for filling out the questionnaire. The
latter were recruited based on their previous experience of qualitative survey techniques.
They are also currently working closely with street children-related projects. A half day-
long training, focusing on the objectives of the research, nature and types of data to be
collected, and on their role as interviewers was given.

Data was collected from five survey sites. These were:

• Arada-Churchill area (Weredas 1 & 2)
• Tikur Anbessa-Teklehaimanot area (Wereda 3)
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