Using reflective poems to describe the lived experiences of street children and adolescents in Ghana

Bibliographic Data

ID13899666
AuthorsKwaku Oppong Asante (0000-0002-0206-3326, University of KwaZulu-Natal, corresponding author), Anna Meyer-Weitz (0000-0002-1874-0803, University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Year2014
Volume20
Issue2
Pages148-150
Publication date2014-11-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0267-3843 • E-ISSN: 2164-4527
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02673843.2014.978342
PMID25931645
PMCIDPMC4391284
OpenAlexW2017675750
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited1

These two poems emerged from my qualitative research with homeless youth in Accra Central, Ghana. I was overwhelmed at how this method of research rarely used in Ghana offers a researcher the opportunity to capture participants' subjective feelings, and the complexities of their perceptions and experiences of a phenomenon. The aim of the study was to examine the lived experiences of street youth and to explore factors that enhance their survival on the street. These reflective poems shed light on the experiences of both the street youth and researcher, as captured in my reflective journal during the research. It was difficult winning the trust of the street youth, but when the trust was won, it became a worthy journey to understanding the complexities of their daily lives

Art · Epistemology · Feeling · Lived experience · Perception · Phenomenon · Photo elicitation · Poetry · Psychoanalysis · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Anthropology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology

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Open DOISci-HubOpen Access