From Ecstasy to Agony and Back
Journeying with Adolescents on the Street
- Barnabe D'Souza - Don Bosco Balprafulta and Don Bosco Research Centre, Mumbai, India
Based on the author's experience of working with the street children for over 26 years, the book explores the universe of street children interestingly, yet empathetically. The author discusses laws and policies affecting street children; root causes and their effects on them and their families; and the various stakeholders like agencies, employers, and institutions involved in their care and guidance.
The participatory action research discussed here views children as their own psychologists, creating meanings for themselves out of their own experiences and understanding. By taking ownership of their actions, street children begin to structure their moving off the streets, facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, thereby improving their status.
| Through the Mist: Introduction |
| Shadows and Silhouettes: Self-worth |
| Defining Images: Personal Ownership |
| In Transition: Moving off the Street |
| Shifting Frontiers: Organizational Issues |
| The Resurgent Self-the A-ha Experience: Mindsets |
| The Enduring Image: Conclusion |
The author has done commendable work in observing in detail the internal dynamics of children on the street and how these forces influence the construction of their identities...The book is a useful resource for students of Social Work, Urban Studies, Child and Adolescent Studies as well as Social Work practitioners who are at the stage of formulating or implementing an intervention model for street children. This analysis of a therapeutic model can fill the gaps existing in practice, to ensure child- centred treatment and rehabilitation.