Placement of orphans under kinship foster care is a common occurrence in social work practice, especially around Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga Province. Social workers are facing the challenge of an alarming increase in foster care cases due to the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the area. Thus the social workers are trapped in a situation of having to place orphans in kinship foster care, without adequate preparation nor the opportunity to explore the feelings and experiences of being in a child-headed household. This study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences and expectations of orphans who were in charge of child-headed households, regarding their preparation for being placed in kinship foster care and their subsequent placement in such care. Research findings revealed that some orphaned children who had previously been heading a child-headed household and were now placed in kinship foster care were continuing to head the households despite the fact that an order had been issued by the children’s court for them to be under the care and guidance of kin foster parents. The non-involvement of orphaned heads of households in any decisions that affect them emerged in the findings of the study as a critical issue. Another important finding was that some orphaned children in kinship foster care experienced the abuse of the foster care grant by their kin foster parents. The research study has made provision for conclusions and recommendations to all role-players responsible for placing child-headed households in kinship foster care in order to enhance the efficacy of kin foster care placement. / Department of Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

The effort of this research was focused on the assessment of the implementation process of the Hands off our Children parental guidance programme by social workers in the Western Cape during 2005. This could be seen as an evaluation of the programme in order to adjust it for future implementation. The objective of this research was to explore the application, experience and implementation of the programme by social workers in the Western Cape. The universe in this study was all social workers that did the training in the HOOC parental guidance programme in the Western Cape. In this study the population was social workers that implemented the HOOC parental guidance programme training in the work place. Participants were selected until saturation of data was reached. The method used in selecting the participants was non-probability sampling. With-in non-probability sampling purposive sampling was used. Conclusions and recommendations on the programme were made in order to empower the Department of Community safety to implement a more effective and streamline project in the future. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

D.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Although the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still very much a silent issue in South Africa, the AIDS pandemic has become a public problem which is threatening to a significant proportion of the population of South Africa (Heartbeat 2002:1; Kaseke and Gumbo 2001:53). HIV infections are on the rise and people are dying every day of AIDS related diseases (Msomi, 2000:8). Thus, the overall aim of this research was to determine how the HIV/AIDS orphans’/vulnerable children’ psychosocial status is affected by the HIV/AIDS disease. The study was conducted in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province. A purposeful sampling was used because four (4) schools were suggested by the Department of Social Services in the Rustenburg Area due to their high populace with HIV/AIDS orphans. The other four (4) schools were suggested by the Auxiliary Services Division in the Bojanala Region of Education. The literature revealed that failure on part of the parent, guardian and/or teachers to meet the psychological needs of the child at a certain stage in his/her development may result in personality disorders, which can become a potential danger and a source of unhappiness to the individual him/herself (cf. 2.5). Furthermore, it was evident from the literature that chronic parental illness may have a traumatic effect on young children because both parents may neglect a child (cf. 4.2). The literature also revealed that children should not be viewed as passive recipients of assistance, but as active participants who play a key role in the development of responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Receiving quality services is a right and a need not only of AIDS orphans, but also of all children (cf. 4.6). From the quantitative data analysis, the following findings emerged, that HIV/AIDS orphans/vulnerable children are optimistic about their future. Children do not blame themselves for their parents’ death. Arising from this research certain conclusions were drawn, recommendations were made and areas for possible future research were suggested. / Teacher Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of orphanhood on the life world of an adolescent orphaned by AIDS, thereby improving the knowledge base and insight of all those who are involved in helping the orphans. This qualitative study endeavoured to answer the following research question: “What is the impact of orphanhood on the life world of an adolescent orphaned by AIDS, in Ratanda area?”. A literature study was done to give a theoretical overview about AIDS orphans specifically adolescents. A semi-structured interview was conducted from five different schools. Findings from the interviews was discussed and integrated with reference to the literature. A qualitative approach was used as this helped the researcher in understanding the functioning of the AIDS orphan in his natural environment. The researcher aimed at documenting these impacts of orphanhood on the life world and to improve the helping professions’ understanding of the phenomenon. This may lead to more successful intervention strategies for these adolescents. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The transformation of child and youth care ran concurrently with the political transformation in South Afriola. One of the projects aimed at establishing the transformation of child and youth care, was Project Go. This project placed a moratorium on the transfer of children 'deeper' into the child care system. It aimed at reunifying children ln residential care wtth their families. Furthermore, the projed assessed the children in the system with the aim of accommodating them in the least restrictive, most empowering child care facility. This narrative action research study focused on the effects of Project Go and the transformations on the children at the Children's Haven M T R Smit This study can also be described as emanciipatory action research. This qualitative study is positioned within a social construction discourse. Knowledge was socially constructed through multiple reflexive conversations. I researched the background to the transformation of the child and youth care system and investigated the implications of the transformation for the children at t.he Children's Haven M T R Smit,as well as for the child care workers and management of the haven. A narrative approach was employed. I relied on the Foucauldian discourse to come to some understanding of issues of power and resistance. Following Foucauldian thought, I investigated discourses constituting the care that the children at the Children's Haven M T R Smit received. This investigatlon led me to formulate some understanding of the history of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) the body responsible for the management of the haven since it was founded in the earty 1920s. 0nce I reached an understanding of some of the historical developments of the DRC (which l learned was closely linked lo Afrikaner politics), I explored some implications of the transformation for the DRC's future involvement with the children in its care. This exploration led me to a comparison of the theology of the DRC and black liberation theology, focusing on prophetic practice. Although not an initial aim of this study, I learned that the transfornation of child and youth care held implications not only for the pastoral practice of the DRC, but also for the helping professions such as psychology, social work and child care. l focused briefly on the ethics and some limitations of care provided by the profession of psychology. I reflected on the implications of the transformation of child and youth care for the helping professions. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology (Pastoral Therapy))

The focus of this dissertation is on exploring the needs of and services provided to orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal. This research is based on the findings from in-depth face-to-face interviews, and the focus group discussion conducted with key informants and primary caregivers of OVCs, respectively. The findings underline that although the needs of OVCs are similar to those of all other children, OVCs face unique challenges. It further shows that the government of South Africa has been responsive in developing relevant legislation, policies, and programmes that attempt to address the needs of OVCs. The findings also revealed that the services provided are coordinated, to a limited extent, through the Flagship Project led by the office of the Premier and. that coordination and integration of activities rendered by various stakeholders is crucial to a positive impact, and in increasing the accessibility of these services. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

HIV and AIDS related deaths have left numerous children heading households as the number of adults dying from this pandemic increased significantly. The goal of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences, challenges and coping resources of AIDS-orphans heading households in an urban area in Free State using a qualitative study. The research revealed that the level of suffering faced by these children began with their parents’ illness. This was further worsened by the death of the parents. These children are in most instances not absorbed by their extended families as the traditional safety nets are stretched to their limits. Children heading households were forced to take up adult responsibilities prematurely and as such encounter challenges on daily basis. The study concluded that the child headed families are a reality in South Africa and need lots of support from the government and local communities. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Increasing tourism numbers in third world countries affect their economies and certain aspects of their society positively; however, there are concomitant negative effects that expose the dark side of the tourism industry. One of these is the escalating commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), particularly child prostitution (CP) in the context of tourism, a phenomenon known as child sex tourism (CST). Although tourism plays an important role in creating the perfect storm of poverty-stricken children colliding with wealthy tourists, it is not solely responsible for this phenomenon. Internationally and nationally, the lacuna of knowledge on CST in particular hampers an informed response by way of resource allocation and coordinated service delivery to both victims and perpetrators. Utilising a qualitative research approach, and the collective case study and phenomenological research designs complemented by an explorative, descriptive and contextual strategy of inquiry, the researcher explored the status of the knowledge of and response to the CSEC through the lens of closely associated role players, who were purposively selected for inclusion in the study. These were adult survivors who were as children engaged in sex work and victims of child sex tourism, social workers and non-social workers involved in rendering child welfare and protection services, members of the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry. Data was collected via individual in-depth semi-structured interviews, telephone interviews, and email-communication and thematically analysed. The researcher found that a range of microsystem level factors, such as poverty and family dysfunction, pushed children to the street, and as a means to survive engage in sex work, enabling tourists (i.e. local - out of towners) and foreigners, mainly men from varied sexual orientation) to commercially sexually exploit both boys and girls, from as young as nine years of age, and of different race groups, which leave them with physical and psychological scars. The following main findings surfaced: The social workers, in comparison to the non-social workers, who have a primary responsibility to provide child welfare and protection services were ill-informed in terms of identifying CST as phenomenon, untrained and/or slow to respond appropriately with interventions directed to the victims and perpetrators of CSEC. The service provider groups, as microsystems interfacing on a mesosystem, were fraught with perceptions that the social workers and the SAPS were being inadequate. Furthermore a lack of cooperation, collaboration and communication between the service provider groups to respond to CSEC existed. The hospitality and tourism industry service representatives were also ill-informed about the phenomena of CP and CST with a response that at best can be labelled as fluctuating between an indirect response to that of turning a blind-eye. From the findings, recommendations for social work practice, education and training and recommendations specific for the other closely associated role players in responding to the CSEC were forwarded. / Social Work / D.Phil. (Social Work)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the services provided by the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Qualitative research design and in-depth interviews with key informants and foster parents of the OVCs were conducted. The study found that the services which are provided by the Centre enabled the orphans and vulnerable children to enjoy life as normally as possible and to experience life meaningfully. As beneficiaries of the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre the children had access to education and two meals per day. Beyond meeting such basic needs, the study also found that Centre instilled a sense of belonging and community in the children. Access to social grants enabled the children’s basic needs to be met. In addition foster parents played a crucial role in taking care of orphans and vulnerable children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

D.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Although the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still very much a silent issue in South Africa, the AIDS pandemic has become a public problem which is threatening to a significant proportion of the population of South Africa (Heartbeat 2002:1; Kaseke and Gumbo 2001:53). HIV infections are on the rise and people are dying every day of AIDS related diseases (Msomi, 2000:8). Thus, the overall aim of this research was to determine how the HIV/AIDS orphans’/vulnerable children’ psychosocial status is affected by the HIV/AIDS disease. The study was conducted in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province. A purposeful sampling was used because four (4) schools were suggested by the Department of Social Services in the Rustenburg Area due to their high populace with HIV/AIDS orphans. The other four (4) schools were suggested by the Auxiliary Services Division in the Bojanala Region of Education. The literature revealed that failure on part of the parent, guardian and/or teachers to meet the psychological needs of the child at a certain stage in his/her development may result in personality disorders, which can become a potential danger and a source of unhappiness to the individual him/herself (cf. 2.5). Furthermore, it was evident from the literature that chronic parental illness may have a traumatic effect on young children because both parents may neglect a child (cf. 4.2). The literature also revealed that children should not be viewed as passive recipients of assistance, but as active participants who play a key role in the development of responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Receiving quality services is a right and a need not only of AIDS orphans, but also of all children (cf. 4.6). From the quantitative data analysis, the following findings emerged, that HIV/AIDS orphans/vulnerable children are optimistic about their future. Children do not blame themselves for their parents’ death. Arising from this research certain conclusions were drawn, recommendations were made and areas for possible future research were suggested. / Teacher Education