A Sample Research Proposal on Participatory Learning on the Risks and Vulnerabilities and Collective Actions for Promoting Rights of the Street Children in Bangladesh

Project Background:

There have been a prodigious outpouring of text (Rizzini, 1996, p. 26) on different issues of street children. This may include their lifestyle, migration status, predicaments of street life, and threats of being robbed, trafficked or torture, involvement in devious activities etc. researches also include the vast array of their socialization on the street environment, social network, aspirations, and recreational activities and so on and so forth. Considering the research objectives an attempt was made to deal with the existing literature in terms of the lifestyle, predicaments and coping mechanism of the street children. In most literature lifestyle is defined as the ways we live in order to fulfill our needs and goals (Liau, 2006, p. 6), encapsulating representations, institutions, behaviours and habits, beliefs, values and social and economic systems .According to Rajan Saxena (2006), ?Lifestyle refers to the beliefs, attitudes, interests, and opinions that an individual has about himself, his family, and the world? (p. 173). It is ?a concept that refers to alternative ways of living, usually conspicuous through values and modes of consumption? (Scott & Marshall, 2005, p. 365). In another words, ?lifestyle refers to the physical, mental and spiritual actions of a man on a day-to-day basis‘‘ (Jain, 2007, p. 7). There is general agreement among sociologists that lifestyle refers to a mode of living, which is distinctive and therefore recognizable. Lifestyle refers to a way of living of families, individuals and societies. Street children have to encounter an endangered, inadequate lifestyle (Hobbs, Lavalette and MacKechnie, 1999) which is thoroughly transient (Sukla, 2005; Pape, 2013) with their most visibility ?in the streets, far from any identifiable home? (Chidebell, 2013, p. 270). Street children live single, in pairs or in group(s). They sleep on railway, launch and bus terminals, by the sides of high roads, pavement, market places on an under the overbridges, water logging areas, abandoned homes, slams and shunts, broken cars, mosques and temples, working places, i.e., hotel and employer‘s shops, manholes and ceramic pipes, etc. They, even most of the time, do not bath on day and keep one set of cloth they wear it until torn. They eat discarded food considered rationally impure and medically harmful. They have no abode, no seat to sit no possessions, no family bindings and no society (in general). As a result they remain as the most vulnerable group (ARISE, 1999) and serious challenge to the country‘s development (Edwards 1989). Devoid of material resources and the support system that are indispensable for survival, these children lead nomadic life on the streets and work at any occupation (Nalkur, 2009) that pays, which ranges from street vending, rag picking, dealing with drugs and contraband items to prostitution (Save the Children UK, 2000, p. 2). Many times it is found that ?they wipe the dirt off the cars and extend their [tiny] hands for a Taka or two, knowing not whether they would get it? (Hasina, 1992, p. 49). Street children, as a special group of children in difficult circumstances (Ehiri, 2009; Saxena and Sharma, 2005), are being recognized apart from the urban poor families who are pavement dwellers (Sukla, 2005). The plight and predicaments of the street children on the street society are respectively immense and innumerable, which include insufficient nutrition, inadequate safety and security, substance abuse, physical injuries and assault by mass people, health problems etc. (Sukla, 2005, p. vii). The social problems they face can be defined as ?…an alleged situation that is incompatible with the values of a significant number of people who agree that action is needed to alter the situation? (Rubington and Weinberg, 2011, p. 4). In different parts of Dhaka city, a common and familiar sight is a street child, working and residing on the streets. They are the children of the urban and rural poor who are the most vulnerable, exploited and who face the highest risks. They work, eat, play and sleep in ?the glaringly public venue of the byways of society? (Hartzen and Priyadarsini, 2012, p. 57). Undernourishment, hazardous environments and adversity obstruct their development in their growing age. Actually they are ?simply poor children in the wrong place? (ScheperHughes and Hoffman, 1998, p. 358). These floating children are often subject to discrimination, beating/torture and sexual harassment (Gupta, 2000). They are manipulated into taking risks, hazardous work and political activity for obtaining food. Basic amenities like education, clothing, shelter, and medicine are less or sometimes not available to them (Wells, 2009). These street children are engaged in different works of adult people i.e. rickshaw pulling, begging, prostitution, factory work, domestic work, etc (ICDDRB, 2004). According to Taiabur Rahman (2009) ?these children work long hours for little pay, have their money stolen, and often get sick because they live in an unsanitary environment. These children are vulnerable to violence, abuse, public humiliation and harassment and often find themselves incarcerated with adult criminal (p. 205). Encountering diversified harsh realities steer children soon become habituated to cope with different predicaments daily (Aptekar, 1994; Scanlon, Tomkin, Lynch and Scanlon, 1998; Aderinto, 2000; Kombarakaran, 2004; Sethi, 2004). Coping mechanism can be defined as ?any behavioral and psychological thought or action aimed at tolerate, reducing or mastering stress? (Morrison-Valfre, 2013, p. 84). Street children are bestowed with ?remarkable survival instincts and courage in daily struggle (Verma, 1999, p. 5). In response to innumerable odds and chaotic life trajectories many street children are obliged to make out their coping strategies, while among others the value of social capital, networks and resources, caring and sharing of happening with those in penuries are considered valuable (Kelletta and Moore, 2003). Running away from villages and other home localities due to a complex multitude of factors like domestic violence, broken family structure and different family centered factors (Ali et al., 2004), harsh slap of poverty (Richter-Kornweitz, 2010), rapid urbanization and modernization (White, 1996), they, finally, face a routine of exploitation, intimidation and harassment (Human Rights Watch, 1999) on the streets due to lack of adult protection and guidance (Mander, 2001; Desai, 2010) and thus they become anti- social elements (Onyekakeyah, 2013) indulging in theft, prostitution, drug dealing and addiction etc. (Deb, 2006) which our society encounters every day. On the streets these immature children have to face social, political and economic problems in diversified ways from a very close point of view. Some of them know the harmful effect of some kind of attitudes; therefore, they try to avoid these too. But most of them are not very much keen, so their fate or uncertainty pushes them to be misguided and go in vain.

In this project, innovation refers to generating new ideas of development to the current scenario of street children in Bangladesh through participatory action research processes. Innovation in this project combines the process of understanding the risk and vulnerability situation of the target population (Street Children) from their point of view, designing solutions through participatory action research method which is learning through evidence gathering and learning from action. Most of the time, in program design phase, it follows the top-down approach which is designing an intervention by the project management who holds the belief that they know how to bring development to the particular target group. “Cultural Relativism” a theory by Franz Boas, said that to understand a culture on its own terms and not to make judgments using the standards of one’s own culture. Projects are traditionally designed in this way. But through participatory action research, the target population will hold the power to bring out the collective action points of their own group where they will own their collective decisions and work for positive changes of their group towards development where the term “Development” will be defined by their own understanding with the support of this project implementer team. 

Innovation will be identified through the exploration of the drivers of the street children. Street children does not get birth in the streets. They also have their roots and for some children they do not even know their roots. There are four categories of street children identified by World Health Organization (WHO). Some children have families and some do not. Every year the growing number of street children left a question about the drivers of this group which is important to explore. Through qualitative research and cases studies, this project will engage to generate evidences of these children’s life sketches focusing more on their risks and vulnerabilities. Participatory Action Research also carries a responsibility to bring positive changes in the target population. Evidences will help to design interventions for the prevention of violence against children (VAC). Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes will innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children. Through implementing a set of children’s designed actions (advocacy, campaign, dialogue, interventions) to have access to social safety net provisions, food, health and education services, to activate child welfare council under Child Act 2013 and to create opportunities for decent work and income earning opportunities for survival. There will be provisions of providing psychological counseling to children who are in need and group sessions. Street children are more exposed to risks, violence, addiction, trafficking and vulnerabilities. Psychological counseling can bring a positive change in the lives of children.  Also this project will work to build capacity of street children on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to promote rights.

Contribution:

The research part of this study will produce evidences of the risks and vulnerabilities of street children. Also, through participatory action research, interventions will be designed and through the process more evidences will be produced on sustainable development of street children. Through capacity building of street children group and by bridging connections with government and social platforms, this target group will be able to advocate for their own rights. Bangladesh government already has plans to reduce the number of street children. During the inauguration of World Children Day and Children's Rights Week in October, 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had asked the ministries of women and children affairs and social welfare to take the necessary steps to ensure food, shelter and education for every street child of Bangladesh. "No children would live on the street as the government has the capacity to feed the reportedly 34 lakh street children” she added. The Prime Minister also urged the authorities concerned to ensure admission of every child in the schools of their areas and warns that the government by no means would accept violence on domestic helps and engagement of children in any risky jobs. Also, According to Prime Minister’s statement, 34 Lakh street children exist in different cities of the country while the report from Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) projects the number of street children are 1.5 million in 2015 and it will reach to 1.56 million in 2024.  

Beating up a street child is a common scenario in Bangladesh. But the Constitution of Bangladesh states in article-35 that no person shall be subjected to torture, cruelty and degrading punishment or treatment. Section-70 of the Children Act (2013) says about the penalty for cruelty to a child. If any person commits such offence may be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to one lac Taka or with both. So, there are rules and regulations yet the implementation of these provisions are not found in the real scenario.

The theory of change of this project surly have an impact to bring positive changes to the deprived street children in Bangladesh and the model will be an example for other low and middle income countries as well.

The Context & Need:

 Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies(BIDS) declared the number of street children is 1.5 million in 2015 and it will reach 1.56 million in 2024. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation this number can be drastically changed and affect more children to become street children. Every year the growing number of street children left a question about the drivers of this group which is important to explore. Through qualitative research and case studies, this project will engage to generate evidence of these children’s life sketches focusing more on their risks and vulnerabilities.

Results or Changes: Exploring the drivers, risks and vulnerabilities of the street children in Bangladesh, this project aims at facilitating Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes to innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children. In this PAR process a child-led platform will be formed to implement (advocacy, campaign, dialogue, interventions) a set of children’s designed actions to have access to social safety net provisions, food, health and education services, to activate child welfare council under Child Act 2013 and to create opportunities for decent work and income earning opportunities for survival. This PAR process will empower the street children in a sustainable way through engaging them with the relevant institutions, stakeholders and build capacity on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, and communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to promote rights. In this project the target population (street children) will form 10 (ten) PAR teams and these PAR teams will discuss among them about their situation. Then they will collectively design an action plan and implement them for the betterment of their situation according to their own understanding. This change will be realized if the target population (street children) has access to the basic child rights, social safety net provisions and decent income earning opportunities. Further, the project will also provide support for sports, cultural activities, peer counseling and psychological first aid for promoting mental health and wellbeing. This change will be realized if the target population has access to sports, cultural activities and psychological counseling services according to their need. 

Approach & Strategy: The intervention aims to address this gap by working with the target group and relevant stakeholders through Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes. and this would be aligned & contextualized with the 3 approaches of this project-

•  To explore the risk and vulnerabilities of the street children, findings and the evidence will be generated through the Participatory Action Research (PAR) process. Strategic interventions will be designed for the 10 Participatory Action Research Team to enable them to be FIT to plan the solutions for the betterment of their situation through the PAR process and implement them effectively through workshops on child rights, capacity building of the target population on life skills, negotiation skills, advocacy skills etc.

•    This approach will focus on inclusive intervention for the target populations and relevant stakeholders through bridging the gap between them by building capacity of the target population, organization of  dissemination workshops with relevant government representatives and organizations, publication of booklets, reports based on the generated information etc. Through the project , the target population will have the proper understanding of their basic rights, social safety net provisions and decent income opportunities, access to sports and cultural activities, peer counseling and psychological first aid. This approach will lift the target population by enabling them to advocate for their own rights and design collective action and implement them for the betterment of their situation.

• Facilitate Adaptation from Traditional project design (Top down approach) to Participatory Action Research process to design collective action by the target population to understand the risks and vulnerabilities and bring positive change according to their own understanding. For sustainability, this project will work on enabling an platform for the target population to understand their rights and advocate for their rights and hence this project will work on capacity building of the relevant stakeholders (sharing the actual scenario and information of the target population generated from the PAR process) and facilitate to bridge the gap between the target population and relevant stakeholders.

 

Research Report Development:

  The intervention will focus on generating information and actual scenarios of the target population following PAR processes to address the gaps and identify them according to the understanding of the target population. The information and data to explore the risks and vulnerabilities of the target population will be generated through 40  In depth Interview, 8 Focus Group Discussion, 38 Key Informant Interview with relevant stakeholders, 20 Photo Elicitation tools, 10 Case Study.

Capacity building of the Target population of the PAR process: The intervention will focus on facilitating the capacity building of the PAR team. In this phase, the PAR team (target population) will discuss their situation with each other and design collective action and implement them. This strategy will facilitate inclusive intervention between target population and relevant institutions and stakeholders by bridging the gap between them. So this approach will include workshops on the Child Rights, PAR process, advocacy skills, negotiation skills of the target population, dialogue program with the relevant stakeholders etc.

Facilitation support to establish sustainable solutions: This intervention will facilitate the adaptation of the PAR process.

Project Aim: Participatory Learning on the Risks and Vulnerabilities and Collective Actions for Promoting Rights of the Street Children in Bangladesh

Specific Objectives:

1. To explore the drivers, risks and vulnerabilities of the street children in Bangladesh

 

2. To facilitate Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes to innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children

 

3. To facilitate Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes for implementing (advocacy, campaign, dialogue, interventions) a set of children’s designed actions to have access to social safety net provisions, food, health and education  services, to activate child welfare council under Child Act 2013and to create opportunities for decent work and income earning opportunities for survival  

 

4. To provide support for sports, cultural activities, peer counseling and psychological first aid for promoting mental health and wellbeing

 

5. To build capacity of street children on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to promote rights

 

In 1989 world leaders came together and made a historic commitment to the world’s children that they promise to every child to protect and fulfil their rights, by adopting an international legal framework – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Who have signed the convention should commit to action to make sure every child, has every right. Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) declared the number of street children are 1.5 million in 2015 and it will reach to 1.56 million in 2024. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation this number can be drastically change and affect more children to become street children.

 In Bangladesh. XYZ is also an implementing partner of this project. The organization have successfully completed a survey on 400 street children of Dhaka and Barishal. In their study, it was found that a considerable number of the interviewed children shared that they were exposed to violence in many aspects and they surely are deprived of basic rights.

Based on this, XYZ is highly interested to work more on this issue to explore the risks and vulnerabilities of street children in Bangladesh to generate evidences and to design sustainable development to the lives of street children.

Title of the Project: “Participatory Learning on the Risks and Vulnerabilities and Collective Actions for Promoting Rights of the Street Children in Bangladesh”

 

Objective of the Research:

1. To explore the drivers, risks and vulnerabilities of the street children in Bangladesh

2. To facilitate Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes to innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children

 

Study Site: 

Dhaka, Chittagong and Barishal.

The reason behind selecting these three divisions is that according to various reports, Dhaka is reported as having the largest number of street children. The second largest division is Chittagong where in recent times due to the influx of Rohingya community number of street children increased in Chittagong. Barishal, another division was selected as GUC had past work experience of work with the street children of Barishal.

Study Population: 10,000 street children

This project will directly work with a fixed number of children in its research and intervention part but it will make an impact on more than 10,000 street children. But specifically for research and Participatory action research the number of directly communicated children will be limited and cannot be determined at the beginning but approximately it will be around 600 street children. The children who are below 18 will be considered as our target group.

Study Period: January 2022 to December-2022 (Timeline will be developed later and need to be flexible due to Covid-19 pandemic situation)

Methodology: 

Mix-Method

The research project intends to do this study applying the mix-method approach. Both Qualitative and Quantitative research method will be applied.

Qualitative Data Collection: For qualitative data collection, the tools and number of interviews will be shown in the following table. The number of interviews are designed primarily like this, but it depends on data saturation.

Sl. No.    Name of the tool                Respondent Category       Number of Interviews

1.            In-Depth Interview (IDI)   Street Children    Total: 40

Dhaka-20  (Largest number of street children live here)

Chittagong-10

Barishal-10

2.            Focus Group Discussion (FGD)        Street Children    Total: 8

Dhaka:- 2 (male group), 2 (female group)

Chittagong: 1 (male group), 1 (female group)

Barishal: 1 (male group), 1 (female group)

 

3.  Key Informant Interview (KII)         

1. Government Official

2. Parents of street children

3. Employer of street children

4. Organizations who work with street children

5. Group Leader of Street children                Total: 38

1. Government Official- 12 (Social Service Department, Police Welfare officer, Counselor, etc.)

2. Parents of street children-6

3. Employer of street children-6

4. Organizations who work with street children-8

5. Group Leader of Street children-6

4.            Photo Elicitation tool         Street Children    20 children (Dhaka-12, Chittagon-4, Barishal-4)

5.            Case Studies        Street Children    10 children (Dhaka-6, Chittagong-2, Barishal-2)

Quantitative Data Collection: 400 sample will be collected from street children on a Semi structured questionnaire.

Developing the study tools and training of Research Assistants: Developing and sharing of the questionnaire, training of the research assistants for data collection, safeguarding training of employees, piloting of data collection-all these processes will be showed in detailed study timeline later.

Sampling:

For qualitative data purposive and snowball sampling will be applied. For quantitative survey random sampling, cluster sampling and snowball sampling will be applied.

Data Management and Analysis:

For qualitative data Nvivo software will be used for data analysis. For Quantitative data analysis SPSS software will be used.

Findings Sharing Platform:

1. Dissemination workshop with government representative and organizations who work for child right.

2. Publication of report and booklet.

 

Intervention: PAR & Advocacy

Background: Based on the findings of the mix-method research, participatory action research groups will be formed and continue work for a period of six months. Based on the findings the number, type, formation, activities etc. will be decided for every action group. All the action groups will get the support of capacity build up by this project. This project will reduce the gaps of processes and bridge connection with existing platforms where street children can demand for their rights and a positive development can be brought in their lives.

Intervention Type: Participatory Action Research

Objective:

1. To facilitate Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes for implementing (advocacy, campaign, dialogue, interventions) a set of children’s designed actions to have access to social safety net provisions, food, health and education services, to activate child welfare council under Child Act 2013and to create opportunities for decent work and income earning opportunities for survival

2. To provide support for sports, cultural activities, peer counseling and psychological first aid for promoting mental health and wellbeing

3. To build capacity of street children on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to promote rights

Target Group: Street Children

Delivery mechanisms:

 

PAR (Participatory Action Research) facilitators will play a vital role in facilitating the action groups. With the PAR mechanism the children’s group will plan, act, observe and reflect.

The findings and the evidences that will generate though this PAR process will be later used for advocacy purposes.

 

Period of PAR process: February 2023 to July-2023 (6 months)

Dissemination of the Study Findings and Utilization of the Data:

1. Dissemination workshop with government representative and organizations who work for child right.

2. Publication of report and booklet.

 

XYZ will seek ethical approval  if funding is granted.

 

XYZ  will initiate a comprehensive ethical scrutiny process to ensure that all research involving participants, their data, addresses relevant ethical considerations and is subject to appropriate ethical review. It will ensure appropriate ethical review of research and continue to develop policies and guidance to facilitate the protection of the research participants.

 

The Ethical Committee of the concerned authority will require to safeguard researchers conducting the study and also protects the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of research participants. Obtaining ethical approval also facilitates and promotes ethical research that is of potential benefit to participants, science and society. By obtaining ethical approval from an impartial committee and having in place robust systems for the review of studies, it can be ensured that the research conducted is of high ethical standard, sound integrity and in accordance with good research governance and legal requirements and international principals.

 

XYZ will consider the following principles in conducting the research:

 

1.            Do no harm

2.            Be open and honest about your work

3.            Obtain informed consent and necessary permission

4.            Weigh competing ethical obligations to collaborators and affected parties (in case of conflict of interest)

5.            Make your results accessible

6.            Protect and preserve your records

7.            Maintain respectful and ethical professional relationships

 

XYZ has its own Child Safeguarding Poliy and a designated Child Safeguarding Officer wiho will measure all the safeguarding components of the project.

 

XYZ is a multidisciplinary research-cum-action organization, registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh (Registration No. 2073) as non-profit and voluntary development organization. It has a multifaceted structure with a large pool of specialists drawn from diverse disciplines. Most of our specialists have long-standing experiences in the relevant fields of research. XYZ  has already made visible contributions to research areas, particularly in the Participatory Action Research (PAR); fields of health; population; education; gender development; and development of the poor, marginalized, disadvantaged and indigenous people. The major domain of XYZ’s interest covers policy and strategy research, action research, participatory assessment, survey, evaluation, technical assistance, training, communication and actions in the fields of population, health, reproductive health, primary health care, education, gender, human resource development, human rights, development of indigenous people, land, agriculture, rural development, microcredit, environment, management and marketing.

 

XYZ has a pool of multidisciplinary experts in the areas of population, health, reproductive health, maternal and child health, gender development, education, development economics, training, human resource development, management, communication, rural development, environment, marketing, systems analysis, statistics, sociology, anthropology, policy analysis, psychology, law, and research methodology. Each of the resource staff and consultants possess the kind of experience and technical skills that are necessary to produce results that can be translated into practical means for improving desired outputs. They have designed and administered research and training programs for the Government, UN Agencies, International and National level NGOs, and the private sector; and all of them are skilled and experienced researchers. In addition, they have all provided technical assistance to different research and training projects carried out by this organization as well as by other reputed organizations, both in Bangladesh and overseas. We supervised master’s level students of Harvard Medical School and University of Amsterdam. The combined and complementary skills of the staff and resource persons form the major strength of the organization.

 

XYZ, an independent organization is engaged in social survey, research, training, participatory development planning and IT services. XYZ offers a wide range of consulting services, providing high-quality technical assistance, program expertise, and analytical services. XYZ maintains permanent staff and may employ temporary employees at any given time. The experience and expertise of our staff, combined with their dedication to the work, results in unparalleled performance for our clients. We work with clients in government, national and international NGOs, UN agencies and industry throughout Bangladesh. The key to XYZ 's success is a sincere commitment to the work that we do. Our professional staff are leaders in program design, research, and policy development, as well as services monitoring and evaluation, planning and management. At XYZ, we help clients develop and implement innovative, practical solutions to complex problems.

 

XYZ 's experts have a wealth of experience. Our experts are from a range of disciplines including sociology, anthropology, economics, agriculture, environment, public health, disaster management, gender, women development, statistics, nutrition etc. In addition to the core staff, a cadre of consultants/experts can be readily accessed, depending upon the needs of the client. These consultants are people that XYZ’s staff have worked with extensively over the years. Our experts represent a diverse set of technical and scientific capabilities and pursue comprehensive and multidisciplinary research activities. The staff and experts/consultants of XYZ has both academic and implementation backgrounds, and are able to combine their knowledge to provide quality support. The expertise and organizational capacities of XYZ are as follows:

 

Expertise and Organizational Capabilities

 

Social Survey

Social Research

Health Research

Education Research

Development Research

Marketing Research

Evaluation

Operations Research

Impact Assessment

Design & Development of Data Collection Instruments

Data Collection

Interviewing

Focus Group Discussion

Qualitative Assessment

Participatory Assessment (PRA/PLA)

Monitoring of Data Quality

Data Management

Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Institutional Capacity Assessment

Institutional Capacity Building

Training

Livelihood Diagnosis

Problem Analysis

Opportunity Analysis

Study Design

Sampling

Program Development & Project Design

Participatory Development Planning

Strategic Planning

Logframe (Logical Framework) Development

Monitoring System Design

Participatory Monitoring

Vulnerability Analysis

Policy Analysis

Translation

Behavior Change Communication

Information System Design & Development

Meeting & Conference Services

Technical Assistance For Development

 

Computer and other Facilities

 

XYZ has its own in-house computer facilities for data base, word-processing, and for programming custom-made package to suit its requirements.

 

The organization uses several software packages, including SPSS PC+, MS FoxPro, MS PowerPoint, Harvard Graphics, MS Access, MS Binder, MS Photo Editor, QuattroPro, FormTool,, and Word Processors such as MicroSoft Word and spreadsheet such as MicroSoft Excel.

 

The organization also has at its disposal 4 IBM compatible computers, Laser printers, scanners, photocopying machine and spiral binding machine.

 

The organization has experienced data entry and processing staff including Information Technology Manager, programmers and data entry clerks.

 

The proposed project “Participatory Learning on the Risks and Vulnerabilities and Collective Actions for Promoting Rights of the Street Children in Bangladesh” will be a qualitative study to explore the effectiveness and process of creating change with innovative VAW and VAC prevention.

 

This project aims at facilitating Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes to explore drivers, risks and vulnerabilities and to innovate and design sustainable solutions to cope with the crises of the life situations of street children.

Specific Objectives:

 

1. To explore the drivers, risks and vulnerabilities of the street children in Bangladesh

 

2. To facilitate PAR processes to innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children

 

3. To facilitate PAR processes for implementing (advocacy, campaign, dialogue, interventions) a set of children’s designed actions to have access to social safety net provisions, food, health and education  services, to activate child welfare council under Child Act 2013and to create opportunities for decent work and income earning opportunities for survival  

 

4. To provide support for sports, cultural activities, peer counseling and psychological first aid for promoting mental health and wellbeing

 

5. To build capacity of street children on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to promote rights

 

Considering the research objectives an attempt was made to deal with the existing literature in terms of the lifestyle, predicaments and coping mechanism of the street children. Street children live single, in pairs or in group(s). They sleep on railway, launch and bus terminals, by the sides of high roads, pavement, market places on an under the overbridges, water logging areas, abandoned homes, slams and shunts, broken cars, mosques and temples, working places, i.e., hotel and employer‘s shops, manholes and ceramic pipes, etc. These floating children are often subject to discrimination, beating/torture and sexual harassment.

 

Through qualitative research and cases studies, this project will engage to generate evidences of these children’s life sketches focusing more on their risks and vulnerabilities. Participatory Action Research also carries a responsibility to bring positive changes in the target population. Participatory Action Research (PAR) processes will innovate and design sustainable solutions for the crises of the life situations of street children. Street children are more exposed to risks, violence, addiction, trafficking and vulnerabilities. Psychological counseling can bring a positive change in the lives of children.  Also this project will work to build capacity of street children on life skills, negotiation skills, facilitation skills, communication and advocacy skills to reduce violence against street children to