The House of Smiles in Harare provides support services to children and young people living in difficult street conditions. This report summarizes activities from January to June 2016 across four pillars: identification and family tracing of children; reunification services and multi-sectoral support including nutrition, hygiene, medical care and education. Key activities included identifying 57 new street children, reuniting 15 children with families, and providing over 2,100 hot meals and medical assistance. Educational support targeted 6 children in formal school or vocational training. The majority of new children were males aged 15-16, from deteriorating economic conditions.

1. Executive Summary
The House of Smiles Harare represent a common factor in CESVI interventions in promoting
the rights of children and other young people living in marginalised and difficult conditions
especially targeting those in streets. This mid-year report is on activities which commenced
January 2016 –June 2016 focusing on four pillars. These pillars strategically focus on the
identification, family tracing and assessment, reunification and other multi-sectorial support
services which include nutrition, hygiene, medical care and educational support. The aim of
the HoS in Harare is to give space to local organisations and individuals sharing the same
vision with CESVI to assist and support children living and working in the streets. Vulnerable
minors voluntarily drop in at the centre Mondays to Fridays for the purposes of interaction,
establishing contacts, building relationships and ties and charting courses of action towards
their rehabilitation and social reintegration through the family or their local communities.
The project was operating within the continuum of different targets on different activities
for the second half of the year. 6 children for FTA, 3 reunifications at least 1 follow up visit
and educational support to 6 children.
1. Introduction
Children in street environment often do not have access to protection and lack basic
human rights services such as food, clothing, shelter, clean and safe water only to
mention a few. According to UNICEF survey report November 2015, they are 2050
children in the streets of Harare alone and a total number of 5000 street children in
the whole of the country. However, the House of Smiles sees only about 9% of these
children.(see table 2.2 below) It is generally believed by the children and youths that
the streets of Harare are lucrative and habitable - hence the pull factor to Harare.
The HoS is the only drop in centre for these children. Most young people frequenting
the centre are incorrigible due to lack of attachment and parental guidance. Young
people on the streets are exposed to all forms of abuse and are mostly survivors of
sexual, emotional and physical abuse with most of them having been neglected by
both their nuclear family and extended families. The general public view these
children in a negative way. They think they are delinquent and hard to cope with.
This is the same view the government has.
2. Identification, screening and documentation of children
Street outreach activity embraces identification of new street entrants, sick children
in the streets and informing them about the HoS and services available to them at
the drop in centre. Children and young people are encouraged to voluntarily visit the
House and together with the staff try to find sustainable solutions to their challenges
through the case management systeminitiated by DCWPS. A preliminary phone call
could signal the beginning of a family tracing process especially for the new children
dropping at the centre for the first time. This is possible if the child provides useful
and accurate information. The Department of Child Welfare and Probation Services
in Zimbabwe has the sole mandate on the welfare of children and their protection
hence most children are referred to them for places of safety and for further

2. management. Reunifications are done where possible especially to simple cases
which does not require places of safety.
Table 1 New children drop in street entrants at House of Smiles
Month Age Sex Identified
Children
FTA Referred
Children
Reunified
children
Deaths
M F
January 14-16 2 2 4 0 0 0 3
February 14-19 10 2 12 0 11 0 1
March 14-16 8 2 10 0 3
April 15-17 11 0 14 2 3 2
May 13-19 11 1 12 1 4
June 11-18 4 1 5 0 1 1
Total 46 8 57 3 15 10
2.1 Table 1 above shows that from February to May 2016 there is a high record of new
street entrants. Possible reasons could be, firstly, unconducive socio-economic
environment in Zimbabwe which has worsened general populace living standards.
Secondly, end of January they were demolitions carried out in one of the informal
settlements in Harare which left many families vulnerable and this may have forced
into the streets. Thirdly most children are not going to school as parents could not
meet their school fees. Government made a directive for every child to attend school
but not all of them are enrolled at government schools.
2.2 Figure 2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
January February March April May June
Sex aggregate of new street entrant from Jan-June 2016
Females Males

3. 81% of new street entrants who visited the HoS are males, girls consist of the
remaining percentage mainly because girls resort to cohabitation for survival in the
streets, sexual trade and or are absorbed by the community as house hold helpers.
From Table 1 above, 18% of the identified children were reunified, which positively
commendable activity is considering the nature of the children. The major strength
on this was that priority for reintegration was accorded to new children visiting the
HoS before streetism soaked into them.
Figure 2.1
Young people aged between 15-16 years frequent the streets of Harare and they
constitutes 41% of the drop in rate at HoS. This explains even the average drop in age
range on a daily basis. Children with ages varying from 15 -16 years tend to have a wide
range of challenges in their lives. Some of these children may not have access to basic
education as their parents or guardians cannot provide for them due to the prevailing
socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe. They frequent the streets in search of
sustainable solutions to their predicament in form of jobs. Some leave home looking for
relatives whom they have lost contact with anticipation to be assisted and they find
themselves in the streets. Another probable reason could be relational challenges with
guardians caused by teenage hood and the macro- economic system.
Very few girls drop in due to different reasons as cited on figure 1 above. The other
challenge could be lack of programs targeting specific challenges faced by girls in the
streets. Girls in streets environments have quadruple vulnerability.
3 Personal Hygiene, nutrition and medical support
3.1 Hygiene guarantees good health for every human being. Young people in streets
often lack this necessity in their day to day living. Their access to bathing and laundry
facilities is limited and they have no access to clean water which is a major component
to survival. Bathing and laundry facilities are provided to these children. A total of 2108
0
5
10
15
20
25
9-10 yrs 11-12 yrs 13-14 yrs 15-16 yrs 17-18 yrs 19-20 yrs
Sex and age aggregate for new street entrants
Females males

4. bathing, laundry and services were provided during the reporting period. 2108 plates of
plates of hot meals either between rice or sadza were served to these children. Nutrition
remains a major component to the health of these children. Failure of them to receive a hot
meal at the drop in centre guarantees them scavenging from restaurant bins around town.
Figure 2.2
The above diagram figure 2.2, explains the frequency drop in of children at the
House of Smiles for the past six months. A total frequency of 2108 children dropped in
and girls only constitutes 9%of the total population. As highlighted above the main age
accessing services at the drop in centre is between 15-16 years. 193 children dropped at
least once for the period under review at the centre. The probability of a child returning
to the House of Smiles is approximately 9% which is very limited compared to a total
number of 2050 children in the streets of Harare as per UNICEF head count results
November 2015.
3.2 Medical support was extended to a total number of 28 children and young people.
Girls who visited the HoS for medical assistance constitutes 39% and their illnesses
were mainly related to STIs. On average boys frequently visit the drop in centre as
compared to girls. 61% of the boys accessed medical support. The macro-system
again is at play as it shapes the behaviour of boys in the streets contributing to their
illness. Most of the boys provided with medical assistance had wounds attained from
beatings from the members of the public after they snatch their valuables like cell
phones or neck chains. This is significantly caused by unavailability of hand outs
from members of the public as compared to the previous years due to tightened
pockets caused by the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy.
Boys
Girls
0
200
400
January
February
March
April
May
June
Frequency Drop in from Jan-Dec
Boys Girls

5. 3.3 Psycho-social support plays a crucial role in the lives of children and young people
surviving in difficult and marginalised conditions. They have experienced different
traumas at this young age and psychological attention is significant for them to view
life positively. Childline volunteer counsellor based at HoS offered counselling
services to 89 children and 12 of them were girls. New and old children are included
in the total number of children assisted psychologically.
4. Second chance education support
4.1 CESVI through HoS compliments governments’ efforts on the welfare of vulnerable
children especially those operating in streets environments. For the period under
discussion the HoS was operating under the target of assisting six children with
formal education. The target was met, three of them are attending formal education
and the other three are at vocational skills training colleges. All of them passed
through the HoS seeing one of the girls aged 17 years graduating with Young Africa
having completed a certificate in cosmetology. Thorough linkages, a further two
children are receiving assistance fromprivate benefactors and are attending
secondary education and vocational skills training.
4.2 Children on the streets lack access to basic education. OSSG is an engagement activity
for relationship creation with these vulnerable minors. Sustainable solutions and
engagement of other service providers within the case management system are effected
at the drop in centre. However, amicable child development is possible with parental
guidance which these children lack. Lack of parental guidance hinders proper child
development often resulting in them having difficulties in attending these classes. The
OSSG activity has some challenges one of them being lack of commitment from the
children since they drop in voluntarily. Most of the school going age are not interested in
attending lessons when they visit the House due to peer pressure from the elderly boys.
It is recommended for all children who are within the school going age to be encouraged
or enticed to attend classes provided at the drop in centre as well older boys.
Nevertheless, World Education International realising challenges with the target group
in terms of learning introduced edutainment to the activity. OSSG is now consisting of
JIC -RUN where sexual and reproductive health rights issues are discussed and they have
shown interest in the topics. Traditional lessons on primary level education as per
Zimbabwean standards such as basic English, Shona, Mathematics and content are a
mere white horse. In the beginning the main OSSG objective was to prepare the child for
reintegration into the community in terms of discipline and understanding.

6. Figure 3
4.3 Other engagement activities are soccer with netball introduced in March 2016.
Soccer trainings are conducted once a week on Tuesday and netball on Thursday.
These activities enable talent identification and psycho-social therapy. HoS has a
semi established soccer team since most of the participants lack commitment. Six
exchange matches within a 40 km radius of Harare were participated in. The HoS
team lost all in favour of the competitor. On a positive note the HoS identified two
talented 17 years old boys who are being prepared to be put through a soccer
academy.
0
3 3 4
2 1
13
15
17
21
20
19
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE
OSSG Attendance Register
Females Males

7. HoS two stars Paul Hanyani and Takudzwa Mandisodza who is standing closer to the
coach in yellow T-Shirt.
4.4 CESVI provides fees for acquisition of national registration documents for street
children. For the period under review only one girl was assisted with the
replacement of a birth certificate and acquisition of a national identity card. National
identification documents acquisition proved to be an activity in need of a multi-
sectorial approach. Different players are involved in the acquirement of these
documents. Although CESVI meets the penalty fees to the Registrar, other
contributory factors like the need to trace and identify a relative who shares the
same surname with the youth remains a stumbling block to the acquisition of these
important documents. Most often the youth does not provide accurate whereabouts
to be able to locate the relative.
5 HoS Clientele Attitude
5.1 We have observed that some of the youths and children who have been frequenting
the HoS have developed unbecoming and unwanted behaviour. The question that
our post engagement monitoring has come up with and has remained unanswered
is,” Are our programs doing enough to assist these souls? Where is the House losing
the plot? What measures can be put in place to mould good behaviour in these
children?” There are evident cases of youths who are now addicted to drug and
alcohol abuse and this negatively affects their commitment, performance, life
management and focus on the future. Young people in street environment have
since migrated from light drugs to strong stuff such as glue. These children have
become violent by the day. Two incidences with potential violence at HoS were
recorded whereby staff seek public security intervention during this period. It was
observed that one of the contributing factors is the absence of temporal shelter
where children can be placed for proper moulding to take place. As it is, the HoS

8. continues to work with the children coming from the streets environment which
does not help matters either.
6 HoS Local Community Assistance
6.1 The HoS gets assistance fromthe local community through donation of used clothes,
blankets and food items. These donations are very important as some of these
children desperately need clothes to wear especially warm clothes for the night and
for winter. Through a Post Distribution Monitoring exercise, it was realised that most
of the elder youths to whom these donations are issued sale themto raise cash to
satisfy their appetite for drugs and alcohol abuse through the purchase of alcohol
and both soft and hard drugs like Glue and mbanje. They would rarely sale these
clothes to buy food since they get one meal per day at the HoS Drop in Centre.
7 Networking
7.1 The staff at the HoS continued to net-work attend various meetings with other stake
holders both government and civil society organisations within the child protection
fraternity and other local organisations working with young people in street
environments.
The forums include;
 Child Protection Network (CPN) meetings chaired by UNICEF
 Child Protection and safeguarding training workshops
 Provincial level and district level Child Protection Committee (PCPC & DCPC)
meetings chaired by the Department of Child Welfare and Probation Services
 Partners Meetings with other organizations working with orphans and
vulnerable children
 Taskforce meeting with other organisations working with children in streets
environment ( City of Harare, VFU, DCWPS and other local nongovernmental
organisations)
 Brain-storming meetings with individuals and well-wishers who have passion
to assist street children. These meetings also involved children themselves.
 The growing numbers of children coming into the streets,
 Key issues that repeatedly come up in these meetings are the
need for shelter in the form of temporal shelter/home, the
need for entrepreneurial skills/vocational skills training for the
bigger youths and the need for a holist and multi-sectorial
approach to the problem