Climate change and street children in Bulawayo: Perspectives on coping mechanisms and resilience building

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Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, in general, and the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in particular, street children are among the most vulnerable populations facing the compounded impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, intensified heat, and prolonged drought. These environmental changes exacerbate pre-existing challenges such as homelessness, food insecurity, and limited access to health and social services. In this study, we assessed the coping mechanisms and strategies for resilience building by street children in Bulawayo in the face of climate change. A qualitative, interpretivist research design was adopted, utilizing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and unstructured observations. A total of thirty (30) respondents participated in this study, including twenty-five (25) street children aged ten (10) to eighteen (18) years and five (5) key stakeholders, who were selected through convenience and purposive sampling, respectively. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify core patterns in climate-related risks, adaptive behaviors, and the effectiveness of support systems. Our findings revealed that climate change manifests as unpredictable rainfall, extreme heat, and water scarcity, fundamentally disrupting daily survival strategies. Street children employ a range of coping mechanisms, including the construction of improvised shelters, adaptive clothing, peer support networks, and the acquisition of environmental knowledge. However, formal organizational support systems were fragmented and poorly synchronized with the urgent needs arising from climate emergencies, compelling children to rely primarily on informal peer networks.

Keywords

climate change / street children / coping mechanism / resilience / resilience building

CHANGE HISTORY

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