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Drop in Centre for Street Children
Mission Statement
To recreate a generation of responsible
children in a harmonious family unit.
Goals:
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To keep the children off the street.
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To re-integrate the child into the family
system and if possible, the school system
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To re-educate and provide families couselling
for children and families.
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To provide programmes that will refine social
and emotional skills.
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To develop trust, self esteem. Self awareness,
self discipline and respect for authority.
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To help the child to identify his or her immediate
long term goals.
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To create attitudes that can be nurturing
and strenghtening in adulthood.
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To provide a daily bath, meals and a change
of clothing
Background
Since the early 1980s Guyana has been
trying to cope with the growing phenomenon of Street children. A survey
was done in 1998. Questionnaires focused on obtaining information on the
lives of the childre, and learning what they felt was needed to get their
lives back on track. A final report was released on October 1998. As a
result of the report, a programme was designed to meet the needs of street
children.
Programme
The programme provides these children
with opportunities to develop self esteem and learn skills that will enhance
their future performance. On entering this programme, each child is exposed
to councelling and personal goal plan is cxreated for him or her. Each
child is also tutored in basic literacy and given the opportunity to learn
life skills and will enable him to be a gainfully employed or to enter
the regular school system. One of the significant goals of the programme
is the mentoring component, which would help to establish a positive image
in the lives of the children at 'risk', through professional support in
a one-to -one relationship with a caring role model.
Street children's real problems
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Family crisis reflect a great disorganisation
of personal and family lives.
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children suffer paerntal neglect, have no
parent figure or parent substitute in their lives, internalize feelings
of deep rejection.
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Children are denied their basic material needs.
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Children suffer significant family problems,
including emotional conflicts at home, poor communication, overly strict
parents, favouritism by parents, and physical and sexual abuse.
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Children have destructive home situations,
genetic mental health illness, alcoholic or drug addicted and unemployed
parental figures.
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Children manifest unruly or disruptive behaviour
if given instruction.
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Children have lost their childhood.
Children are denied appropriate role models
that are a critical part of the regular school system.
How can you help?
Help their all-round development
Counsel them on self-attainment
Read them a story
Teach them a skill
Contact:
Pat Gray
Assistant Chief Probation
Officer
Probation and Family Welfare,
Lot 1 Water&Cornhill
Street, Stabroek, Georgetown
Tel.225-6212 or 225-7450
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