Self-preservation of street children on selected towns in Rizal Kristian B. Garcia...[et.al].

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Psychology) -- University of Rizal System-Morong.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The study was conducted to determine the purpose of knowing the self-preservation constructively in terms of pandemic disease, threat of physical attack, and threat of lifestyle. Also to know the self-preservation destructively in terms of threaten the lifestyle of others, threaten physical attack where the threat no longer remains real in order to manage the real life scenario. The study was conducted during school year 2017-2018 The researchers focus on 5 street children who is currently residing at Antipolo, Cainta and Tanay Rizal. All of them showed experienced self-preservation to protect their life. This study used qualitative research design. It is a systematic subject approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning. The researcher made questionnaire was validated by experts in line with the study and used as guide for interview to analyze the data gathered. The assumption was that street children managed their real life scenario when it comes to self-preservation constructively and destructively to preserve their lives. As revealed by the respondents they managed their lives by sleeping under the bridge using carton or linoleum as bed sheet, taking a bath in the river and "poso", begging for money or stealing for their needs. One of them works as park boy in order to buy food. They throw things that would hurt a person and threaten someone with harsh word if they couldn't get what they want, one of them would ask help and protection from the big guys. According to them they tried to avoid from trouble that would cause them harm. Most of these children suffer from the absence of parents, breakdown of family structure, hunger, cold, sickness, poverty, emotional support, safety, exploitation and mistreatment. They have to cope with different kinds of danger on the street. They have to fight with other street children, adults and policeman in order to earn their living. To face the violence of the street they need the support of other children, and so they form groups. The gangs provide them with the security and protection that they have lost by leaving home or those things they never received from their parents. The gang gives as a substitute from parental protection, and is considered to be a family when the ties between the children are strong. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the street children managed the real life scenario when it comes to constructive behavior, however they are more engage to destructive behavior in terms of threaten the lifestyle of others, threaten physical attack for personal gain and continuing an attack where the threat no longer remains real to preserve their lives. From the findings, the paper recommends that the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office of Rizal may intensify the different programs targeting street children, possible activities include expressive arts therapy, play therapy and counseling sessions. The local government together with Municipal Social Welfare Development is encouraged to provide activities that will assist the needs of parents of street children. They should consider the problems like lack of parental involvement, mental health issues, substance abuse, the at-risk-youth. Other researchers together with the organization of the school may opt to have annual activities for the street children to give happiness and feel them that there are people who love and care for them.