Abstract

GIRALDO PINEDA, Álvaro; FORERO PULIDO, Constanza; SANCHEZ SUAREZ, Diana  and  CASTANO LOPEZ, Natalia. The meaning of support institutions for homeless children, Medellín, Colombia. Index Enferm [online]. 2012, vol.21, n.4, pp.204-208. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962012000300006.

The research was made with Medellin´s street children, Colombia. Objective: Understand under the participant´s view, the meaning of support institutions. Method: Qualitative, ethnographic research. 39 Interviews, observation and field diary were realized. Ethic was fundamental piece of the process. Analysis was made with participant to guarantee the rigor. Results: Children go to these institutions looking for support, motivated by themselves, other people or the institutions. These pretend to change children´s personality, thought and behavior joining them to a process. To accomplish this, some rules has to be applied and penalized by teachers or leaders. Children leave these institutions when they received humiliating punishment, submissiveness ("caciqueo"), boredom and fear. Conclusion: Institution by itself does not accomplish these changes, they are only achieved by the interaction with their friends and buddy (parceros).

Keywords : Qualitative Analysis; Child; Institutionalized; Anthropology Cultural.