ASSESSMENT ON MAJOR CAUSES AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN ON THE STREETS: THE CASE OF CHILDREN ON THE STREETS IN MASERU, LESOTHO

Abstract

This study focused on the psychosocial challenges faced by street children. Ten participants were selected for this study using purposive sampling. The data was collected at Kick4Life. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis and themes were extracted and presented. The results of this study indicate that children living on the streets experience many psychosocial problems. Focus group discussions using a guide with open-ended questions were conducted to collect data from 10 street children, which was then analysed by coding into themes, notably forms of abuse such as emotional, physical, sexual, neglect and poverty. The research provided recommendations how to avert the situation of street children through active participation of governmental, non-governmental, community and family as well as affected children.