The influence of social organization among street Children on their survival on the Streets

Abstract

One of the most common characteristics of human behavior is that it is socially ordered, organized and structured. Individual interactions and identities are not only shaped by personal interactions, but also by the sub-cultures and social groups in which people live. It is on this basis that this paper seeks to understand the extent to which social organization among street children influence their survival on the streets. This paper is based on the premise that street children are rational and thus, their way of social organization is a mechanism by, which they survive the difficult life on the streets. The paper argues that not much has been done at the policy level on how to improve the reintegration programmes and other interventions for street children. This is due to the failure of the concerned stakeholders on understanding the social organization structures among street children and its influence on their survival on the streets. We believe that understanding the social organization structures existing among street children is significant in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions towards curbing street children phenomenon in Kenya. The paper recommends that the concerned stakeholders working with street children should understand the social organization structures that enhance street children’s’ survival and encourage their continued stay on the streets.