Challenges Facing Former Street Youth Graduating from Rehabilitation Centres in Rwanda

Abstract

This paper, based on a study carried out in Rwanda during the period 2021–2022,
investigates challenges facing former street youth who have graduated from
rehabilitation centres (RCs) in Rwanda. It employed a theoretical framework
grounded on empowerment and resilience theories. A descriptive longitudinal
research design used quantitative and qualitative research methods involving 433
respondents, 365 survey questionnaires distributed to former street youth, 10 group
interviews comprising 66 former street youth, 5 personal interviews with former
street youth, 3 group interviews with 33 youth without street life experience and 1
group interview with 20 parents, 15 personal interviews with officials, and 4 key
informant interviews. The findings indicate that 66.4 percent of the respondents
lack financial support, 58 percent are not linked or connected with service
providers, and 39.2 percent face family and community mistrust. Thus, 70 percent
struggle to improve their livelihoods through jobs/income-generating activities,
which are different from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) skills acquired from RCs, after long waits for unobtained support, and 72.2
percent earn less than $50 per month. It was concluded that former street youth are
incompletely/partially empowered; and are not resilient in terms of the capacity to
improve their livelihoods. The findings suggest that RCs should start to involve
parents, families and communities when former street youth are undertaking
rehabilitation programs to collaboratively handle issues faced by RC graduates.
Immediate support after graduation, and special consideration for former street
youth in job/ income-generating opportunities were highly suggested to enhance
empowerment and resilience for long-lasting improvements to livelihoods and selfreliance among former street youth.