Thesis (M.A.)--Villanova University, 2006. / English Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Communication and Culture. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-293). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNR11547

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-232).

M.A. (Philosophy) / Imagine a hypothetical couple, Jane and John Smith. The Smiths have been together for a couple of years, and they both have good jobs with a solid income. They are both physically healthy and happy, and have a good relationship built on mutual trust. The Smiths feel ready to take, what so many call, 'the next step' - they want a child. This sounds like a commonplace scenario in any middle-class society around the world. But let me add to their considerations the one about the existence of orphans - almost 145 million of them worldwide (UNICEF 2009). A dilemma now occurs for the Smiths: Should they have their own, biological child, or should they adopt an orphan? Like most people, they would like to have their own child, but realise that there are so many children already in existence who need a home. They consider that, instead of having a biological child for no other real reason than their own desires, they can really change one (or more) child's life by adopting her. There simultaneously exists an inherent dilemma for any state: Should the state interfere in people like the Smiths' option to reproduce naturally in order to increase the adoption of orphans? There are millions of orphans who will never be adopted, and yet every year millions of babies are born. The existence of orphans is therefore a socio-economic problem for any country, especially third world countries that cannot provide the orphan with adequate care and education. In this thesis, I examine how the existence of orphans in the world should influence anybody's decision to reproduce and what the state's role should be therein. The millions of orphans in the world raise serious moral questions for those people planning to have a biological child. Difficult questions arise like, if there are so many children already in the world who are in dire need of parents, is it ethical to bring another human being into the world? What duties, if any, do prospective parents have towards orphans? Do orphans deserve moral consideration above people's yet unborn 'flesh and blood'? Additionally, questions arise about the role of the state: Can it be just for a state to interfere in people's decision to reproduce? Will it be permissible to punish people if they do not adopt? Is the existence of orphans ultimately the responsibility of the state or also of the citizens within the state?

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has resulted in 14 million children being orphaned worldwide. In Lesotho alone, where this study was carried out, there are about 180 000 of these children (UNAIDS, 2007). Teachers, especially in Lesotho‘s primary schools need to be equipped to better deal with the challenges that result from having these children in their classrooms. At the Lesotho College of Education, where I have worked for 12 years as a teacher educator, pre-service and in-service student teachers are not trained to offer care and support to orphans and vulnerable children. They experience problems in the classroom emanating from the needs of these children. This study followed an action research design to find ways to support teachers to better deal with the issues they face as a result of having orphans and vulnerable children in their classes. Using a qualitative approach, educators perceptions, feelings, attitudes and experiences in dealing with orphans and vulnerable children in their schools were identified, and it became apparent that educators were negatively affected on a personal and professional level. It was concluded that the development of resilience in educators would help them to better cope with orphans and vulnerable children in their classes. The chosen intervention Resilient Educators Programme (REds) was implemented and evaluated and findings revealed that it was beneficial in increasing educator resilience. Recommendations, based on the findings of the study, were made for future teacher education in this area.

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

No abstract available. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The goal of this research was to uncover the needs of adolescents, who had been orphaned by the death of both parents. The intention was to search for a deeper understanding of the needs of such adolescents, as well as to identify and discuss how service rendering to them can be improved. Therefore the research focused on adolescence as a developmental stage in the life-cycle and the impact of death on adolescents who have been orphaned by both parents. To attain and enhance the goal, empirical research was conducted by means of semi-structured interviews with male adolescents who have lost both parents. The research findings highlighted the final phases of the physiological, psychological, brain and moral development towards adulthood. It uncovered the devastating effects such as numbness and emotional exhaustion that death of both parents, may have on these children. The research indicated the negative effects of this trauma on their communication skills, pain, and feelings of loss, guilt and vulnerability. Furthermore, the research confirmed the fact that they are left alone without parents a factor which pushes them into adulthood before they are ready for it. The research uncovered further needs these children may have for example good care, the need to have a guardian, protection, education, support, a place to stay, toiletries, clothes, food, information about how to date girls and to show respect to others. These findings lead the researcher to formulate several recommendations. It is clear those social workers as well as all the other professionals who work in this field of practice need to understand the needs of adolescence as developmental phase. Training in this regard should thus include the life cycle with special reference to adolescence, the impact of death on adolescents and their special needs. Finally, it is clear from the study that the principle of the best interest of the child, should always be taken in consideration when any service is being rendered to these children. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

A number of researchers have explored the toll of AIDS on the children who have become orphans as a result of the disease; others have investigated the roles of aid-giving agencies on the alleviation of the orphans' situation. However, despite researchers' pointing to the germaneness of community and goodwill agency liaison, no study had examined the impact of such collaboration on the resources available to the orphans. To this end, the heads-of-household of 532 AIDS orphans under 18 years old in Kenya's Nyanza province were surveyed to investigate the impact of community-referral on the state of AIDS orphans with regard to homelessness, birth registration, food security, school attendance, and sibling separation. The theoretical framework for the study was rooted on the interplay of resource-availability and stressors on AIDS orphans. Results of regression analysis showed that double orphans ate fewer meals than maternal or paternal orphans. There was an inverse relationship between the number of AIDS orphans in a home and the likelihood of homelessness; older orphans tended to not be separated from their siblings; double orphans were more likely than single orphans to be separated from their siblings; school absenteeism was higher among older orphans and when the head-of-household was female; community-referred, male children, offsprings of the respondents tended to have birth registration. The results of the assessment will be pertinent to stakeholders as a framework to guide program planning and implementation as they address the needs of AIDS orphans in Nyanza province and other similar communities.

This study focused on the psychosocial effects of parental loss on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The primary aim of the research was to explore the psychosocial effects of parental loss on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS through the eyes of the caregivers. Five participants were selected for this study using convenience sampling. The data was collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis and themes were extracted and presented. The results of this study indicate that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS living in the children’s home experience many psychosocial problems. Further research on the psychosocial issues specific to orphaned children raised in children’s homes in rural areas is recommended / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)