Study on children and young people in street situations in Kinshasa
As part of its cooperation programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dynamo International sought to deepen its understanding of the situation of children and young people living and working on the streets of Kinshasa, and to gain a better understanding of the effects of the initiatives carried out with its partners.
To this end, a study was entrusted to a team from the School of Criminology at the University of Kinshasa, led by Professor Raoul Kienge-Kienge. Conducted in two phases, the study explores, among other aspects, how children and young people perceive their situation, their protection, the discrimination they face, their participation, and their place within the community. It also considers the perspectives of families and communities in order to better understand the dynamics surrounding life on the streets.
The first phase, conducted at the beginning of the implementation period of the DGD 2022–2026 programme, established a baseline and documented the realities, perceptions and life trajectories of the children and young people concerned.
The second phase, conducted towards the end of the programme, revisits these different dimensions, examines how they have evolved and considers these changes in light of the interventions carried out. It also provides an updated understanding of the profiles and needs of children and young people in street situations in Kinshasa, against a constantly changing backdrop.
Beyond assessing the changes observed, the study aims to generate knowledge that can help reflect on and improve intervention practices, particularly street-based social work, and inform the future programmes of Dynamo International and its partners.