Abstract

PIP: The principal themes that emerge from this interview are that in Senegal street children can be rehabilitated and educated to play effective roles in society. Differences should be made between street children who are categorized as unadaptable, the delinquents and those who are morally dangerous. The unadaptable child is one who has social or psychological problems; the morally dangerous child is one who runs the risk of becoming a delinquent because his social and economic environment and a delinquent child is the one who commits the violations by going against the law. Most problems at home lead children to become delinquents. The most common types of delinquencies committed by children are drug abuse, robbery, prostitution and involuntary accidents. Once caught in a delinquent act there are several alternatives; 1) "Action in Open Education" (AEMO) which is an organization that allows the children to remain at home with their families but places them either in school or finds them a job up until the age of 21; 2) the Placement Centers (CS) where children are interviewed comprehensively; at the CS they spend the day but return to their homes at night; 3) they are taken to jail and only released at the consent of AEMO; 4) they are tried before the Children's Court and if found guilty, they are placed in a jail for minors (13-18). There is a need to open special centers for delinquent children that offer education, training and a variety of cultural entertainment and sports.