Angela Rumsey, Illinois Wesleyan University
“Life on the Street: Participant Observation of Street Children in Masaka, Uganda”
Abstract: The primary goal of this research was to learn about street children in Uganda, exploring the reasons they were on the streets, the challenges they faced in their day-to-day lives, and their interactions with and effects on the community. The bulk of the research came from participant-observation at Child Restoration Outreach (CRO) an organization that works with street children, their families, and the slum community in Masaka, Uganda, including the rehabilitation class, the health section, and the social work office. This was supplemented by interviews with the CRO staff and daily interactions with the children themselves. The study’s findings suggest that street children are caught in a cycle of violence that restricts them from bettering themselves in the society. Without the help of programs like CRO, it is impossible for many of the members of the community to gain access to education or health services, or to raise their standard of living.
