The Efects of War on the Family Structure :the case of Street children in Freetown, Sierra leone

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the effects of the civil war on the family structure. It specifically focused on the case of street children in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was a descriptive study that sought to understand the perceptions of the growing number of street children in relation to the effects of the war on the family structure. The data collection involved the use of discussion schedules, which were developed to guide the focus group discussions in order to answer the research questions and hypotheses in the study. Participant observation was used to clarify information received in the focus group discussions. The research population was composed of a group of street children, internally displaced women group, and three service-provider groups, namely, a church, an NGO, and a government department. The researcher facilitated the focus group discussions. The study revealed that the growing number of street children in Freetown after the civil war in Sierra Leone was due to several related factors, which were considered as the effects of the war. Among these factors, poverty was perceived as the critical issue in the incidence of street children. The factors (many of which were aggravated by the war) were perceived to have weakened the family structure which was once the support system in the society. However, the findings showed possibility for re-integration of street children into their families as a better way of dealing with the incidence of street children. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study, which called for the church and NGOs' involvement in the reconciliation of street children with their families. A further recommendation made was for the church to be involved in holistic ministry that addresses the physical, spiritual, and social aspect of the street child. This suggested that the church was to be the voice and advocate in the incidence of street children.