Children's agency in reducing poverty and environmental risk : case study of drop-in- centre, care-net development and support organisation

Abstract

In terms of Section 10 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 (Republic of South Africa [RSA], 1996), children who are at an age, maturity and stage of development where they are able to participate in decisions concerning their future, have the right to do so and for their views to be duly considered. The goal of the research study was to explore and describe how children’s agency was recognised and respected in programmes / interventions aimed at reducing poverty and environmental risks in the case study of a Drop-In-Centre at the Care-Net Development and Support Organisation (Gauteng, SA). The study adopted a qualitative research approach, and the type of research was applied. Instrumental case study design was utilised to conduct the study, and a purposive sampling of seven child participants (CPs) and three key informant participants (KIs) from the Drop-In-Centre. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were used to collect data, guided by an interview schedule. A six-step thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Quality of data was ensured through the strategies of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The findings indicated that child participants were aware of the impact of land and air pollution on their health and well-being. Children report minimal roles in the planning and implementation phases of the programmes they participated in, while the majority of the planning, implementation and evaluation processes were dictated by the adults in the programme. Although participants acknowledged the need of adult’s support in making critical choices, they also want to make decisions of their own and want adults to recognise their ability to do so. The study concluded that child participants have the agency and autonomy to make decisions in their own best interest when they have the necessary information and opportunities to do so. The minimal level of children’s participation in the programmes’ phases could be attributed to adults’ stereotypes about how children are generally perceived in society distorts the nature of the relationship between children and adults and how adults perceive children’s agency. The study recommends that a purposive platform for child participation be established such as a children’s committee, nominated and run by the children, to serve as a link between the children, adults and programme managers. The study sheds light on the agency and ability that children have to participate meaningfully in the design and implementation of programmes aimed at them.