IMPACT OF SPORT

PROGRAMS AND PHYSICAL

ACTIVITIES ON STREET
CHILDREN
ABASS, TEMIDAYO PRECIOUS
190901. GROUP B 2017
ABSTRACT:
This extended essay examines the various ways sports programs and physical activities
impact street children. The essay begins by introducing the term “street children” and
properly defines it. The essay then continues, and discusses the characteristics of street
children to give better context to the lives of street children while discussing the impact
sports programs and physical activities have.The next part of the essay discusses the benefits
of sports programs and physical activities on children as a whole. These benefits are benefits
that street children enjoy as well so discussing them allows us focus on the impact of sports
and physical activities on street children specifically. That is what is illustrated in the next
part of the essay. Lastly, for the end of the essay, the conclusion is reached and discusses
major contributions. Then, recommendations are made to improve the impact sports
programs and physical activities have on street children.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………4

CHARACTERISTICS OF STREET CHILDREN………………………………………..4

BENEFITS OF SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ON CHILDREN AS A

WHOLE…………………………………………………………………..………………….4

IMPACT OF SPORT PROGRAMS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ON STREET

CHILDREN………………………………………………………………………………….6

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………7

RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………………………7

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………8
Introduction
The United Nations defined the term ‘street children’ to include any boy or girl for whom the
street in the widest sense of the word has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of
livelihood, and who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible
adults(Owoaje et al, 2009).
Street children can usually be divided into two groups. The first group is called ‘Children of
the street’. This refers to children who are homeless, and have streets in urban areas are their
source of livelihood, where they sleep and live. The second group is called ‘Children on the
street’. These are children who work and live on the streets in the daytime but return back
home at night where they sleep, although some of them sleep on the streets
occasionally(UNCHS, 2000).
Nevertheless, there is no clear distinction between the two groups as they often differ from
their common definition: some ‘children of the street’ may still have links with their families
and some ‘children on the street’ often sleep on the street (UNICEF, 2001).
Characteristics of Street Children
To discuss the impact of sports and physical activities on street children, we must first
understand street children and their characteristics.
The average age at which street children start living on the streets is between 9 and 12 years
old, and they keep living on the streets until they reach the age of 15 to 16. When they
become older they start to look for stable jobs with better wages (Rizzini et al., 1994).
Street children face difficulties in providing themselves with good sources of food, clean
drinking water, health care services, toilets and bath facilities, and adequate shelter. They also
suffer from absence of parental protection and security due to the missing connection with
their families. In addition, there is a lack of any kind of moral and emotional support (Lugalla
and Mbwambo, 1999).
As for gender representation, the majority of street children are boys (Lugalla and Mbwambo,
1999; Le Roux and Smith, 1998). Females are less represented owing to cultural sanctions:
girls are more controlled by their families. Moreover, when they escape from their families,
they either work as servants for a family or are caught by pimps; it is particularly because
they are more subject to abuse than boys on the streets that they prefer any other place than
the streets (Lugalla and Mbwambo, 1999).
Regarding their health conditions, street children are subject to sexually transmitted diseases
like HIV due to unprotected sexual behaviours among them and also because of casual sexual
relationships. Girls who offer sex in exchange for security and shelter cannot oppose any
unsafe sexual behaviour because of their weak position (Lugalla and Mbwambo, 1999).
For culture, morals and traditions, street children usually are not concerned due to their being
away from their family since childhood. Street children are subject to dangerous and illegal
activities such as drug dealing, crime, theft and gang activities (UNCHS, 2000). However,
many of them also undertake legal economic activities such as parking, car washing, baggage
loading and others (Lugalla and Mbwambo, 1999).
In terms of social networks, children who do not have ties with their families form peer
groups. These peer groups play the role of family and are a source of solidarity, economic
and emotional support for their members. Each group has a leader who is obeyed by group
members, reflecting how well organized they are (Le Roux and Smith, 1998; Lugalla and
Mbwambo, 1999). In terms of security, some of them depend on peer groups to provide them
with security and protection. Girls are different from boys in forming their security groups.
Girls group usually have an older girl who has a sexual relation with a boy or a guard who
provides them with protection in return (Lugalla and Mbwambo, 1999).

Benefits of Sports and Physical Activity on Children as a Whole

The benefits of sports and physical activity on children as a whole can be divided into a few
categories namely, physical health benefits, mental health benefits and social benefits. We
will be looking at these benefits to children as a whole to give us better context when
Benefits To Physical Health
Sports and physical activity, along with a balanced diet and adequate sleep can give the
several benefits to children. These include, stronger muscles, bones and joints, stronger heart,
controlled body fat, decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, and improved fitness (Skrupskas, 2014).
Also, according to Morris Kelly (2015), children who participate in physical activities,
experience positive health benefits. These health benefits include a decreased risk of high
blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and some types of cancer as reported by the president’s
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Furthermore Morris Kelly (2015) conveys according
to an article published by the University of Florida that children who participate in sports are
also less likely to smoke or use drugs and alcohol than children who don’t participate in
sports. The article also reports that teenage girls who participate in sports are less likely to
become pregnant than girls who don’t participate in sports (Cited by Ekinde, 2017).
Benefits To Mental Health
Along with the plethora of physical benefits, the mental benefits are equally as important.
When children are physically active, their bodies releases serotonin which directly
contributes to their feelings of well-being. Exercise has also been found to relieve stress,
depression and anxiety which are emotions that are often overlooked in children. Sports
increases the likelihood of children staying active, allowing them to sleep better and keeps
them mentally sharp. Increased physical activity levels have been found to directly relate to
school performance, particularly in the areas of math, reading and retention of
information(Skrupskas, 2014).
Benefits To Socialization
Sports and physical activity do not only help encourage children to be more physically active
but also helps teach them valuable skills and life lessons that they can carry with them
through to adulthood. Growing up can be difficult, leaving many youth with the feeling of
inadequacy but sport has been found to help increase self-esteem and self-confidence in
children. Not only does sport increase their individual confidence but it also helps keep
children social. Social skills that are learned or enhanced through sport while assisting
children in growing into successful adults include, teamwork, fair play, communication,
respect for others, ability to follow rules, independence, leadership(Skrupskas, 2014).
Children also learn and acquire some lessons and morals both at personal level and at team
level from the sporting activities. During the sporting activities as the children interact and
collaborate with each other they were able to learn and experience some lessons such as: ,
honesty, generosity, kindness and being loyal (Ekinde, 2017).
Sports and physical are a great way to keep children active but they clearly offer a number of
benefits that stretch much beyond that. Sport not only aids children in their development
process but gives them the necessary skills to be successful later in life.

Impact of Sport Programs and Physical Activities on Street Children

Sport programs and physical activities not only give street children the benefits discussed
above. There is greater impact regarding their situation as street children. Throughout the
world, sports and physical activities are being used to answer their emotional, physical,
spiritual, educational and economic needs and facilitate their transition off the streets and
back into family and community life (Cailliau, 2013). These activities are organised mainly
by non-governmental organizations.
This impact is due to the potential of sport for building trust, hope, self-confidence and
cooperation. When well-implemented, sport activities can provide street children with a safe
place to reflect on their future and the possibility to return to their family, receive health
education and learn social skills such as patience. Moreover it can keep them from lethal
drugs and gang violence(Cailliau, 2013).
Impact on Physical Health
Sport programs and physical activities especially when organised, help improve the physical
health of street children. Some foundations that organise sport programs provide them with
primary healthcare, medical assistance shelter and life skills(Cailliau, 2013).
Impact on Mental Health and Rehabilitation
Sport programs and physical activities also provides informal and formal education, leisure
and recreation, and family tracing and reunification(Cailliau, 2013). A lot of them are
reunited with their families.
Team sports also offer a good forum for education and awareness about important issues,
such as diseases, including HIV/AIDS(Naturally Africa Volunteers, 2020).
Impact on Socialization
In a study carried out (Turkay et al, 2017), the number of street children who are interested in
sports in various degrees is three times higher than the number of children who have no
interest in it. The street children who are interested in sports have greater socialization levels
than those who have no interest in it. This is illustrated and explained below.
 Interest N Average Standard Z Significance
in sports Value Deviation (p_value)
Yes 102 128.50 20.31 -2.574 .010
No 31 111.00 33.48 -2.574 .010
Table 1: The socialization level of the children who participated the study according to their
interest in sports(Turkay et al, 2017).
The table lists the difference in the socialization level of children according to their interest in
sports. According to the Table the number of children who are interested in sports in various
degrees is three times higher than the number of children who have no interest in it (102
versus 31).The average socialization points of the children interested in sports are 128.50
with a standard deviation of 20.31 while these figures are 111.00 with standard deviation of
33.48 for the students who have no interest in it. The result of Mann-Whitney U test are Z = -
2.574 p<0.05 which show that there is a statistically significant difference in the socialization
levels of the ones who are interested and not interested in sports(Turkay et al, 2017).

Conclusion
Sports and physical activities have had a significant impact on the well being and
rehabilitation of street children. There are benefits to their physical health, mental health,
socialization that improve their rehabilitation, reintegration into society, unity with their
families and prepares them for success.

Recommendations
My recommendations are as follows:
-The government of countries with a large burden of street children should organise more
sport programs and physical activities tailored to these street children to improve
rehabilitation.
-The general public should be educated as to how great of an impact these sports programs
and physical activities ave so that they can support these causes. Also, education of the
general public can change stereotypes that are had about street children for the better. This
will improve their reintegration into society.
References
Cailliau V (2013) Promoting the rights of street children through football,
Ekinde L (2017) 'The Role of Sports in Children’s Education', Helsinki Human Rights, Case
Study 09.
Le Roux, J., & Smith, C. (1998). Causes and characteristics of the street child phenomenon:
A global perspective. Adolescence, 33 (131): 683-688.
Lugalla, J. & Mbwambo, J. (1999) Street children and street life in urban Tanzania: the
culture of surviving and its implications for children’s health. International Journal of Urban
and Regional Research, 23 (2): 329-344.
Naturally Africa Volunteers (2020) TANZANIA STREET KIDS SPORTS VOLUNTEER
PROJECT, Available at: https://www.volunteerafrica.com/volunteer-projects/tanzania-street-
kids-sports-volunteer-project/ (Accessed: 19th March 2021)
Owoaje E.T., Adebiyi A.O., Asuzu M.C. (2009) 'SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF STREET CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
UNDERGOING URBANIZATION', Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine., 7(1), pp. 10-
15
Panter-Brick C (2002) 'Street Children, Human Rights and Public Health: A Critique and
Future Directions', Annual Review of Anthropology, (31), pp. pp. 147-71 (p4).
Rizzini, I., Munoz-Vargas, M., Galeano L. et al (1994) “Brazil: A new concept of childhood”.
In Blanc, C. (ed.) Urban children in distress: Global predicaments and innovative strategies.
UNICEF studies. Langhorne: Golden and Breach Publishers. p.55 – 98.
Skrupskas J (2014) The impact of sport on the development of children, Available at:
https://athletics.carleton.ca/2014/impact-sport-development-children/ (Accessed: 19th March
2021)
Turkay, Hikmet & Yetim, A & Çeviker, Abdulkerim. (2017). Abdulkerim Çeviker ROLE OF
SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS OF STREET CHILDREN (A
PILOT STUDY). 10.5281/zenodo.826416.
UNCHS (Habitat) (2000) Strategies to combat homelessness. UN-Habitat.
UNICEF (2001) Orphans and other vulnerable children and adolescents in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe: UNICEF.