AN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH TO ASSESS THE WELL-BEING OF STREET CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE: IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

This study reports on an assessment of the well-being of street children in Harare Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe using the ecological systems approach. This study was underpinned by a quantitative approach which employed a semi-structured questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. Based on survey data of 202 street children who were purposively sampled, the findings revealed that street children lack access to food, education, accommodation, health care and proper sanitation. Therefore, street children require multi-component psychosocial and developmental interventions to enhance their well-being. The recommendations drawn from the findings were submitted to the Department of Social Development in Zimbabwe. Keywords: Child well-being, developmental social work, multiple deprivation, street children, poverty, Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe