The phenomenon of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Zambia is a consequence of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Many of these children are orphaned at a critical developmental stage of their lives when parental care and nurture is most needed. In the African world view, children’s opinions in matters concerning them including care are rarely sort or heard. The main aim of this research was to gain a holistic understanding of the silent voices of children affected and/or infected by the HIV and AIDS, and specifically about their experiences of care and/or lack of it. The other aims were: 1) to research alternative means of getting the silent stories of the marginalized children heard by the Zambian society; and 2) to disseminate the research findings to policy makers. Ten children orphaned by AIDS and vulnerable children, who are the core-searchers, drawn from three Lusaka urban based NGOs participated in the study. The research process and experience was reflected upon by the researcher, co-researchers and the care givers. The research was carried out from a Practical Theology perspective and the narrative approach within the postmodern social-constructionist paradigm. The ABDCE model for fiction writing as a metaphor for doing narrative research was used. This approach enabled the researcher to carry out the research in a systematic manner. It also allowed the researcher and the co-researchers to begin and work together throughout the research process, as the researcher listened to the co-researchers’ stories and experiences of care and/or lack of it and was drawn into them. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Adolescents living in the inner-city of Pretoria have their own special challenges that they must face everyday. These challenges entails a poverty context, communities of violence, difficult family circumstances and a developmental phase in which they struggle with their own identity. The focus of this research is to listen to the stories of adolescents that have not being listened to before, concerning HIV/AIDS and their experiences regarding care. These young people is infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. The researcher does this research in the Narrative therapeutical paradigm, listening Practical Theologically to the stories of young people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS regarding care. Other stories about adolescents and care will also be listened to. The research process is social-constructionally structured. The researcher is searching for a holistic understanding of care from the perspective of young people. Discourses about adolescents, about care, about the inner city and about AIDS will be discussed. Two separate groups of young people participated in the research. The researcher also listened to voices of the Sediba Hope AIDS Care Center about care and about young people. Reflection groups were used, consisting of teenagers and people from the academic community. The researcher used the method of reflection and self reflection throughout the research. Care is described after there were listened to the stories of the young people. The role of an African world-view is described as a resource to understand care holistically. The researcher spent time to reflect on the theological implications of the stories of young people and about the role they must play in the church and in the community. Different care narratives are described as an outcome of the research. Other outcomes are also named and reflected upon. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted