Social Studies

Name : Janice Fox

October 29th, 2014

1. Define the term street children?

The term street children refers to children who lives on the streets and also makes their
livelihood by doing odd jobs example cleaning cars and selling stuff in order to survive. These
children are not protected or supervised by adults.
2. Outline two domestic situations which may be responsible for the number of street children in
urban areas of the Caribbean
a) Poverty Sometimes children are sent on the street by their parents or other family
members with the hope that they will make enough money by begging, to help out with the
economic situation at home. This is due to the family experiencing extreme poverty which
leads to the children being exploited.
b)

Physical or sexual abuse in the home - Children will use the streets as a means of escaping
both physical and sexual abuse in the home. This sometimes has an adverse effect in that
the children end up being initiated into gangs.

3. Give three reasons why it is important for Caribbean countries to reduce the number of street
children?
a) Reducing the number of street children will reduce the number of gangs and gang
related violence because a lot of street children experience peer pressure and end up in
gangs. This leads to an increase in crime.
b) Street children reduces a countrys labour force in that they are not contributing in any
way to the economic well being of their country and neither are they being productive
members of society by having a skill.
c) Street children also puts pressure on the countrys social infrastructure. This includes
medical facilities, government sponsored food programs and also prisons and childrens
homes which are overcrowded and are financially supported by taxpayers.

4.

Suggest ways in which a welfare organization may help street children?

Community centers can help street children by teaching them vocational skills. This would
keep them occupied and would eventually help them to be gainfully employed.

5.

Discuss the relationship between teenage pregnancy and poverty?

Teenage pregnancy is more common among young girls who are disadvantaged from an
early age. They are most likely from a poor family and usually drops out of school, has low
self esteem and low expectations of themselves as productive members of society.
Sometimes it is a cycle in that the mother was a teenage mother also and the cycle
continued. They see no way out of their situation of poverty so they will be lured by older
men who offer them financial help. The teenager will eventually get involved in a sexual
relationship and ends up pregnant.

6.

Identify two legal substances that some people in the Caribbean abuse?
Two legal substances which are abused in the Caribbean are tobacco (cigarettes) and
alcohol.

7. Describe two factors that may cause young people to abuse drugs?
a) Peer pressure is a contributing factor for drug abuse in that young people are easily
influenced by friends and being eager to fit in, they will start using drugs so they will feel a
sense of belonging.
b) Drug abuse in young people can also be caused by being exposed from a very young age
to family members using drugs .The young person will think its a normal behavior and
therefore will get addicted to it.

8 Give three reasons why there is domestic violence in some families

a) Domestic violence is sometimes caused by the abused partner being unemployed and
totally dependent on the partner whom is employed. The employed partner will
be dominant and violent towards his/her partner. This is used as a way of exerting control.
b) The abuser could have been exposed to domestic violence from a young age, example
seeing his/her parent being abused and passed it on to the next generation because it was
perceived as being normal.

c) Domestic violence is sometimes caused by the abuser suffering from depression. This could
lead to jealousy and rage towards his/her partner.

9. Suggest two activities that schools in your country may organize to educate young people on
the dangers of drug abuse
a) Schools could organize extra curricular activities to keep young people occupied after school.
This will keep them focused and away from drugs. Its also a way of positive interaction with
their peers.
b) Schools could also organize counseling for young people. This would educate them on the
dangers and consequences of using drugs.

10) Research the work of the Y.M.C.A. in Jamaica

a) Y.M.C.A. in Jamaica provides skills training for young men and women in Jamaica. This assists
them in becoming more productive and marketable. They also provides recreational activities,
example- swimming. The Y.M.C.A. works closely with the ministry of education to provide
these services especially for young people who have dropped out of school and not attending
any educational facility.
b) Investigate alternate lifestyles and suicide
Alternate lifestyle is linked to suicidal tendencies. The reason for this is that most people who
practice alternate lifestyles are discriminated against by society. The pressure of not abiding by
societys rules and being shunned will lead to depression and eventually suicide in some cases.