The Challenge of Sustaining Street Youth Reintegration
Reintegration of street youth after rehabilitation is a critical but often overlooked step in social protection systems. Although rehabilitation programs provide psychological counseling, vocational training, and structured care, many youth still relapse into street life due to inadequate post-rehab support.
In countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and other parts of East Africa, the absence of structured reintegration support—such as access to employment, finance, mental health services, and housing—leaves former street youth highly vulnerable.
This article draws on policy analysis, field interviews, and research by Uwitonze & Mhando (2023) to explore how governments and stakeholders can close critical gaps between rehabilitation and sustainable reintegration.
1. Why Social Protection Matters in the Reintegration of Street Youth
Rehabilitation centers play a vital role in stabilizing and training youth. However, once youth exit these programs, many return to poverty, unemployment, and homelessness—the very conditions that pushed them to the streets.
According to Uganda’s National Social Protection Policy , the goal is to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected and supported through a lifecycle approach. Similarly, Rwanda’s policy highlights the importance of linking poor and vulnerable populations to employment, education, and social assistance programs.
Yet both policies lack specific strategies tailored to the complex reintegration needs of former street youth—especially those emerging from rehabilitation with no family support, income, or housing.
2. Vocational Training Alone Doesn’t Guarantee Reintegration
Many rehabilitation programs provide TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in practical skills like:
- Carpentry
- Hairdressing
- Masonry
- Tailoring
- Mechanics
- Cooking
- Sewing
These skills may be market-relevant; however, job placement mechanisms remain weak or entirely absent. According to Uwitonze & Mhando (2023), most youth in Kigali leave rehabilitation centers without connections to employers or labor market entry points.
Such an approach deviates from global best practices. As emphasized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), TVET programs should be designed with strong industry linkages, apprenticeships, and job-matching services to prevent skill wastage (UNESCO, World Bank & ILO Building better formal TVET systems: principles and practice in low- and middle- income countries).
Without this, many youth drift into informal or unsafe work—if any work at all.
3. A Case Study: From Training to a Missed Opportunity
During my field research, I interviewed a 22-year-old woman (referred to as X for privacy) who had completed her rehabilitation at Gitagata Rehabilitation Centre, where she trained in hairdressing.
After completing the program, she returned home to Gatenga Sector, Kicukiro District, in Kigali. Motivated to begin working, she faced immediate barriers: no job, no startup capital, and no professional connections in the hairdressing field.
Eventually, she found a salon in Kicukiro Centre that was open to accepting her as a trainee—if she could pay RWF 20,000 per month. This fee would secure a salon station, allow her to improve her skills under mentorship, and potentially lead to employment after three months, once she gained client trust and experience.
However, despite her readiness, she couldn’t raise even that small amount. Out of desperation, X turned temporarily to survival sex work on the streets. In her words: “I don’t like it. It’s dangerous. There’s violence, rape. I just need support to leave it for good.”
Deeply affected by her story, I chose to fund her first three months at the salon. Additionally, I made regular visits to monitor her presence and progress. Over time, she became more confident and improved significantly in her craft.
By the fourth month, though, new challenges emerged. She still couldn’t afford rent, food, or her share of utilities at the salon. I managed to cover one additional month and encouraged her to remain persistent—to use her improved skills to build a path forward.
She persevered for two more months without financial support. Unfortunately, she had to leave the salon, unable to sustain her position. That RWF 20,000—roughly $15 USD—became a seemingly small, yet decisive barrier between reintegration and survival.
4. Lessons from the Case: Barriers Beyond Skills and Motivation
Her story demonstrates the critical importance of micro-financing, job bridging, and continued psychosocial support—none of which were available to her through government channels.
5. Financial Support Is Essential in Reintegration of Street Youth
In Rwanda, programs like the Youth Toolkit from the Business Development Fund (BDF) exist to support small enterprises. However, as Uwitonze & Mhando (2023) noted, the 25% collateral requirement excludes most former street youth, who lack assets or formal financial history.
It also goes against the World Bank’s guidance on inclusive financing, which recommends zero-collateral microfinance and startup support for marginalized youth(World Bank: Youth Employment Programs).
Social protection systems must adapt to the unique conditions of former street youth, offering tailored startup capital, business training, and flexible repayment terms. Without targeted financing and job access, the reintegration of street youth remains fragile and incomplete.
6. Housing Support as a Core Component of Street Youth Reintegration
Many full-time street youth lack access to stable housing or are estranged from their families. As a result, when rehabilitation centers release them, they often return to the same environments that previously failed them.
Without access to transitional housing, youth are forced back onto the streets—particularly in urban areas where jobs are concentrated but rents are unaffordable.
To address this, and to ensure that no youth is excluded from sustainable urban development, UN-Habitat urges governments to include youth-specific shelter initiatives in broader social protection frameworks (UN-Habitat, 2024).
This could include:
- Rental subsidies
- Group homes
- Supported independent living
- Shelter-based employment programs
Ultimately, ignoring housing in the reintegration process leads to systemic failure. Therefore, effective reintegration of street youth requires more than shelter—it demands long-term investment in stability and opportunity.
7. Psychosocial Support After Rehabilitation Is Crucial for Street Youth
Street youth often face trauma related to violence, drug abuse, or exploitation. While rehabilitation addresses these issues temporarily, many governments wrongly assume that healing is complete upon program completion.
Even today, some communities in Rwanda, for example, still treat returning youth with suspicion and doubt. This stigma undermines reintegration efforts and contributes to social isolation.
For UNICEF’s Guidelines on Children in Street Situations (UNICEF, 2017), sustainable reintegration should include:
- Ongoing mental health counseling
- Family mediation services
- Community awareness programs
- Follow-up support by trained social workers
This holistic support builds community trust and strengthens the reintegration process.
8. Making Monitoring of Street Youth Reintegration a Policy Priority
One major weakness in existing policies is the lack of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Furthermore, in both Rwanda and Uganda, there is no formal tracking of what happens to youth after rehabilitation.
For example, are they working? Are they safe? Are they back on the streets?
Governments must establish:
- Reintegration outcome databases
- Follow-up case management systems
- Youth feedback mechanisms
- Community-based monitoring committees
Only then can policymakers learn from what works—and fix what doesn’t. Policies that overlook the reintegration of street youth risk wasting the impact of well-funded rehabilitation programs.
Strengthening Social Protection to Ensure Lasting Reintegration
Rehabilitation programs provide a strong start, but social protection must finish the job. Reflecting on youth like X, success was within reach—but systems failed to deliver at the most crucial moment.
In order to build effective reintegration ecosystems, social protection policies must:
- Facilitate job placement after TVET training
- Provide micro-financing for youth-led businesses
- Ensure housing support for youth without stable homes
- Continue psychological support in communities
- Track reintegration outcomes to improve performance
This is not just a matter of policy—it’s a matter of justice. Street youth deserve more than rehabilitation. They deserve a real chance to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and opportunity.
Closing the Gaps in Street Youth Reintegration
Reintegration of street youth after rehabilitation cannot succeed in isolation. As shown through lived experiences, policy gaps, and local realities, social protection systems must evolve from short-term fixes to long-term solutions.
From job placement and housing to psychological care and financial access, support must be sustained, targeted, and inclusive. Without such systemic alignment, even well-designed rehabilitation programs risk failure—and youth are left to repeat the cycle they struggled to escape.
What You Can Do Next
👉 Join the call for stronger youth reintegration policies. Share this post with educators, policymakers, and youth advocates who care about creating lasting change for former street youth.