Assessing the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programmes in the Reintegration of Children in Street Situations in Kampala District: A Case Study of Selected Non-Governmental Organisations.

Abstract

KALULE WILLINGTON (2014-M092-20014) Assessing the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programmes in the Reintegration of Children in Street Situations in Kampala District: A Case Study of Selected Non-Governmental Organisations. The study was conducted in four non-government organisations in the divisions of Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Rubaga in Kampala district. The major objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes in the reintegration of children in street situations in four chosen organisations in Kampala district. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the content and pedagogy of the rehabilitation programmes; find out opinions of the organisations on their rehabilitation programmes; explore the perceptions of the rehabilitated children in street situations that have undergone rehabilitation towards these programmes; and to find out the views of the selected care giver community towards rehabilitation programmes in the selected organisations. Using both the qualitative and quantitative approaches, the researcher adopted a case study design, using interviews and a questionnaire on a sample of 72 respondents. Qualitative data was analysed using the thematic and discursive method while quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, specifically, frequencies and percentages. Findings were that the content of rehabilitation programmes in the organisations that were under study seemed to majorly contain education, basic needs, counselling and guidance giving less attention to skills development, bible sharing and psychosocial support. The pedagogy under which these organisations operated was not clear and no organisation gave a clear picture of what pushed them to work with children in street situations. In objective two, findings revealed that rehabilitation programmes helped to transform lives of children in street situations. However, rehabilitation programmes were not so much of behavioural change agents. Child acceptance and love where given little attention as important end results of rehabilitation programmes. Creating a positive community impact was not given great attention by all the organisations in the study. The findings in objective three revealed that children perceived rehabilitation programmes as those that helped improve their ways of behaviour from street ethics to behaviour accepted in society, feel valued and loved and enabled them to study. Most children, however, complained they were being returned home quickly against their will. The language used in the programme (English) was also a communication challenge to most of them and threatening them with punishment when they made mistakes also scared them. The findings in objective four revealed that caregivers perceived rehabilitation programmes as those which helped their children become humble. They, however, were not happy with rehabilitation programmes they thought to have defective elements where children were taught their rights but not their obligations at home. They said programmes also brought about failure of children to disassociate themselves from organisations in which they were. The mixture of children of all categories was also another challenge where they picked on other bad behaviours from other children. In order to attain effective rehabilitation programmes in the reintegration of children in street situations, a uniform rehabilitation programme for children in street situations be designed by government for all organisations in this field. Organisations should sensitise their staff about the pedagogy under which they operate to help streamline organisation activities and motivate staff to work towards the same direction. Organisations should go for more qualified counsellors and sensitise their staff about the elements in their rehabilitation programmes for proper operations. Children in street situations should get sensitised about rehabilitation to adequately prepare for reintegration. Caregivers and communities should be sensitised by organisations about rehabilitation programmes, children‟ rights for successful reintegration of children in street situations. Government should revisit the period the children in street situations have to spend in rehabilitation homes on rehabilitation programmes for adequate time to rehabilitate and reintegrate these children. Key Words: Rehabilitation Programmes, Non-Governmental Organisations, Street Children, Kampala District.