Reasons for pushing street children to the street and the problems they face on the street: Istanbul example

The aim of this study is to examine the reasons for pushing children who live or have lived on the streets at some point in their lives onto the streets and the problems they face on the streets; to reveal the necessity of new approaches in the field of protective, preventive and supportive services for street children in Turkey and thus to contribute to the development of new practices. An ecological model, which is a more comprehensive approach to explaining the processes and etiology of the reasons for pushing children onto the streets, will be used. According to the ecological model, the pushing of children into street life is not merely a single phenomenon, but rather occurs as a result of the interaction of many factors. This model provides the most comprehensive framework for systematically conducting research and implementing interventions aimed at addressing the reasons for pushing children onto the streets and the problems they may face in street life. This study is designed as a qualitative research because it aims to reveal the problems faced by children pushed into street life and their reasons for being pushed into street life with a deep understanding. Within the scope of the research, the phenomenological research design, which is among the qualitative research designs, was used in the collection and analysis of data. In this context, interviews were conducted with children who have spent a period of their lives on the streets or continue to live on the streets. Of the children participating in the research, 7 are girls and 6 are boys. The interviewed children are between the ages of 8-18. The research was conducted face-to-face. As a data collection tool, a semi-structured interview technique was used and a critical literature review was conducted for the questions in the interview form, and secondary documents were used. A 15-question semi-structured interview form was applied to the children. The findings of the research show that family, school relationships and peer groups have an impact on pushing children into street life; the biggest factor being the family factor. Reasons such as an unhappy environment within the family, the failure of the family to fulfill its basic functions, parents not taking on their responsibilities and not developing a healthy and secure bond with their children, and the value attributed to the child by parents being insufficient cause children to move away from the family environment. Their families have low socio-economic levels. The majority of families live on social assistance and support. The risks and dangers faced by children in street life are exposure to abuse, social exclusion, substance use, presence in a criminal environment, attempted suicide and self-harm behaviors.