Given the general challenges associated with finding alternative care for an increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Zimbabwe, adoption appears to be an appropriate option. In practice adoption appears is one of the alternative forms of child care and ye it t has not received the necessary research attention. This study was aimed at developing an in-depth understanding of the challenges experienced by adoptive parents in the adoption of OVCs in Zimbabwe and the support system available for them in managing such challenges using the ecological systems theory. A qualitative research approach which was designed from exploratory, descriptive and contextual research designs to understand the challenges experienced by adoptive parents in the adoption of OVCs in Zimbabwe was adopted, with purposive and snowball sampling techniques used to identify and recruit a sample of eight parents who have undergone the process of adoption. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews guided by an interview guide and analysed according to Braun and Clarke’s six steps of qualitative data analysis. Trustworthiness of this study was evaluated according to its credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability as proposed by Guba and Lincoln while relevant ethical principles were upheld throughout the entire duration of the study. The findings revealed a variety of socio-demographic features of adoptive parents as well as several challenges and experiences which are presented in a form of 10 themes and 13 subthemes in this report. Conclusions are drawn based on the research process and the research findings from which the recommendations are proposed for research, practice and training and education. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Work)

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / See the attached abstract below

The AIDS pandemic has generated a large number of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in Swaziland, as it affects the reproductive age group. Most of the OVC are being cared for by their grandparents who are old, poor and suffer from degenerating diseases of old age. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the needs and support available for OVC under the care of grandparents in the informal settlements of Mbabane, Swaziland in order to develop guidelines for their care and support. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted to identify the needs of the OVC and type of support provided by organizations for these children. Data was collected using unstructured and semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted in three phases each addressing a research objective. In the first phase which was to identify the needs of OVC, twelve grandparents who cared for OVC in the informal settlements participated. For the second phase seven managers of organizations that provide support to OVC in the informal settlements participated. The third phase was the development of guidelines by the researcher and validated by participants and experts. The study highlighted the needs of OVC, the nature of the existing support structure and type of support provided by organizations for these children. The findings revealed that the OVC have developmental support, protection support, psychosocial support and support for survival needs. The themes identified from the analysis of the type of support provided by organizations were developmental, partnership, protection, psychosocial and support for survival needs. The organizations' support was inconsistent and inadequate to meet these needs due to the large number of OVC. Some of the weaknesses of organizations were indicated as donor dependency and lack of coordination and collaboration among organizations. The study highlighted partnership as fundamental to the successful implementation of the guidelines. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and its impact on their identity development. The qualitative research paradigm was chosen for the purpose of this study. In depth interviews were held with three young adults who lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS when they were young. Hermeneutics thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study’s results identified different psychosocial issues associated with HIV/AIDS which were considered to be an influence in the lives of participants and their identity development. The results indicate that HIV/AIDS still has a strong and negative connotation which influenced the participants’ attitude and behaviour, including the development of their sense of identity. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The AIDS pandemic has generated a large number of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in Swaziland, as it affects the reproductive age group. Most of the OVC are being cared for by their grandparents who are old, poor and suffer from degenerating diseases of old age. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the needs and support available for OVC under the care of grandparents in the informal settlements of Mbabane, Swaziland in order to develop guidelines for their care and support. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted to identify the needs of the OVC and type of support provided by organizations for these children. Data was collected using unstructured and semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted in three phases each addressing a research objective. In the first phase which was to identify the needs of OVC, twelve grandparents who cared for OVC in the informal settlements participated. For the second phase seven managers of organizations that provide support to OVC in the informal settlements participated. The third phase was the development of guidelines by the researcher and validated by participants and experts. The study highlighted the needs of OVC, the nature of the existing support structure and type of support provided by organizations for these children. The findings revealed that the OVC have developmental support, protection support, psychosocial support and support for survival needs. The themes identified from the analysis of the type of support provided by organizations were developmental, partnership, protection, psychosocial and support for survival needs. The organizations' support was inconsistent and inadequate to meet these needs due to the large number of OVC. Some of the weaknesses of organizations were indicated as donor dependency and lack of coordination and collaboration among organizations. The study highlighted partnership as fundamental to the successful implementation of the guidelines. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

M.Ed. / Orphans living in child-headed households within underprivileged communities are amongst the most vulnerable children, and protection of their rights deserves to be the main focus of all individuals, governments and agencies dealing with such children. There is a need to stimulate broad-based discussion, heightened awareness of, and sensitivity to their plight, special needs and ... rights.

A presente tese almejou investigar o uso abusivo de álcool e outras drogas nos domicílios onde hoje vivem jovens cujos pais (um ou ambos) morreram em decorrência da Aids, e compõe um subprojeto de seguimento da pesquisa intitulada Estigma e Discriminação Relacionados ao HIV/AIDS: Impactos da Epidemia em Crianças e Jovens na Cidade de São Paulo. O estudo de seguimento foi de natureza exploratório-descritiva e incluiu dez jovens (de idade entre 15 a 24 anos) de ambos os sexos, cujas famílias são residentes nas Zonas Noroeste e Oeste e que participaram da pesquisa anterior. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas com base em questionários. Como resultado, observou-se que o contexto e a rede de relações em que os jovens participantes estavam inseridos conseguiram preservá-los de fazerem o consumo prejudicial de bebida alcoólica e de usarem outras drogas. Portanto, a orfandade em si não se destacou como um fator determinante para o aumento da vulnerabilidade a este agravo no grupo estudado. Nos domicílios visitados, apenas uma jovem poderia ser considerada usuária abusiva de bebida alcoólica que foi, então, convidada a participar de um estudo de caso. No total, cinco entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram realizadas com ela tomando como ponto de partida a construção de seu Mapa de Redes. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado quadro da Vulnerabilidade e da Abordagem Psicossocial e a teoria de Redes de Apoio Social. No estudo de caso, pode-se observar que a orfandade de pai e de mãe, somada ao afastamento dos integrantes de sua rede familiar; ao receio do estigma e da discriminação por ter pais que morreram devido à Aids; a impossibilidade de acessar um apoio psicossocial para lidar com sua solidão; ao desemprego, entre outras situações, serviram para ampliar a vulnerabilidade da jovem ao uso prejudicial de bebida alcoólica. Observou-se que os encontros e as conversas estimuladas pela compreensão da rede de apoio social de um indivíduo podem contribuir para o esclarecimento de contextos raramente incluídos em outros quadros conceituais que tratam do consumo prejudicial de álcool e outras drogas. O uso do Mapa de Redes permitiu à jovem entrevistada resgatar e reforçar o vínculo com os integrantes da rede de apoio social (rede familiar, de amigos, vínculos no novo emprego) considerados como importantes mediações para concretizar seus planos para o futuro. Contribuiu, ainda, para mitigar sua vulnerabilidade individual ao uso prejudicial de bebida alcoólica nos momentos de sofrimento. Em acréscimo a outras metodologias desenvolvidas com base no quadro da vulnerabilidade e dos direitos humanos, acredita-se que a referida abordagem estimula o desenvolvimento de reflexões relevantes para a formulação de políticas públicas condizentes com as necessidades expressas pelos jovens estudados. Desse modo, espera-se que a continuidade desse esforço permita construir ações que previnam e suprimam as circunstâncias que expõe as pessoas a situações de vulnerabilidade ao uso prejudicial e à dependência de bebida alcoólica e outras drogas, e que forneça subsídios importantes para os profissionais que atendem aquelas que buscam e se encontram em tratamento / The present doctoral thesis was aimed at investigating the overuse of alcohol and other drugs in houses where youngsters live today, whose parents (one or both) have died as a consequence of Aids, and consists of a subproject belonging to a broader research entitled Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV/AIDS: Impacts of the Epidemic on Children and Youngsters in the city of São Paulo. The study had an exploratory-descriptive nature. Ten male and female youngsters participated in the study (with an age range of 15 to 24 years old), whose families live in the Northwest and West areas of the city and who participated in previous research. Data was collected through questionnaire-based interviews. Results pointed out to the fact that the context and the relations network in which the young participants were inserted succeeded in preventing them from overusing alcohol and other drugs. Moreover, being an orphan per se only was not seen as a key factor to the increase in terms of vulnerability in the group studied. In the houses visited, one female youngster could be considered an abusive alcoholic, upon which a case study was built. Overall, five semi-structured interviews were carried out, which have allowed to build up her network map. For content analysis purposes, interpretation of the framework of Vulnerability and Psychosocial Approach and Social Support Network Theory was used. In the case study, being orphan per se, as well as the detachment from her family, the fear of stigma, the discrimination for having parents who died of Aids, the lack of access to support, unemployment, among others, were seen as determining factors to increase her vulnerability and abusive use of alcohol. It was evident that the meetings and the talks stimulated by the social support network can contribute to contexts that are often times not included in other theoretical frameworks dealing with overuse of alcohol and other drugs. The Network Map allowed the female youngster to recover and strengthen the attachment with the members of her social support network (family, friends, and attachments in her new job), which are important mediations to help make her future plans come true. It also mitigated her individual vulnerability in relation to the overuse of alcohol in grieving moments. In addition to other methodologies developed on the basis of the framework of vulnerability and human rights, it is believed that such an approach fosters the development of relevant reflections as regards public policies that can tackle the reality of those studied youngsters. Thus, it is hoped that such an effort be everlasting so as to take actions that can prevent and suppress circumstances that are capable of increasing their vulnerability in terms of drug overuse and their dependence on alcohol and other drugs, thus providing important foundation for professionals that deal with people seeking or in treatment

A presente tese almejou investigar o uso abusivo de álcool e outras drogas nos domicílios onde hoje vivem jovens cujos pais (um ou ambos) morreram em decorrência da Aids, e compõe um subprojeto de seguimento da pesquisa intitulada Estigma e Discriminação Relacionados ao HIV/AIDS: Impactos da Epidemia em Crianças e Jovens na Cidade de São Paulo. O estudo de seguimento foi de natureza exploratório-descritiva e incluiu dez jovens (de idade entre 15 a 24 anos) de ambos os sexos, cujas famílias são residentes nas Zonas Noroeste e Oeste e que participaram da pesquisa anterior. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas com base em questionários. Como resultado, observou-se que o contexto e a rede de relações em que os jovens participantes estavam inseridos conseguiram preservá-los de fazerem o consumo prejudicial de bebida alcoólica e de usarem outras drogas. Portanto, a orfandade em si não se destacou como um fator determinante para o aumento da vulnerabilidade a este agravo no grupo estudado. Nos domicílios visitados, apenas uma jovem poderia ser considerada usuária abusiva de bebida alcoólica que foi, então, convidada a participar de um estudo de caso. No total, cinco entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram realizadas com ela tomando como ponto de partida a construção de seu Mapa de Redes. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado quadro da Vulnerabilidade e da Abordagem Psicossocial e a teoria de Redes de Apoio Social. No estudo de caso, pode-se observar que a orfandade de pai e de mãe, somada ao afastamento dos integrantes de sua rede familiar; ao receio do estigma e da discriminação por ter pais que morreram devido à Aids; a impossibilidade de acessar um apoio psicossocial para lidar com sua solidão; ao desemprego, entre outras situações, serviram para ampliar a vulnerabilidade da jovem ao uso prejudicial de bebida alcoólica. Observou-se que os encontros e as conversas estimuladas pela compreensão da rede de apoio social de um indivíduo podem contribuir para o esclarecimento de contextos raramente incluídos em outros quadros conceituais que tratam do consumo prejudicial de álcool e outras drogas. O uso do Mapa de Redes permitiu à jovem entrevistada resgatar e reforçar o vínculo com os integrantes da rede de apoio social (rede familiar, de amigos, vínculos no novo emprego) considerados como importantes mediações para concretizar seus planos para o futuro. Contribuiu, ainda, para mitigar sua vulnerabilidade individual ao uso prejudicial de bebida alcoólica nos momentos de sofrimento. Em acréscimo a outras metodologias desenvolvidas com base no quadro da vulnerabilidade e dos direitos humanos, acredita-se que a referida abordagem estimula o desenvolvimento de reflexões relevantes para a formulação de políticas públicas condizentes com as necessidades expressas pelos jovens estudados. Desse modo, espera-se que a continuidade desse esforço permita construir ações que previnam e suprimam as circunstâncias que expõe as pessoas a situações de vulnerabilidade ao uso prejudicial e à dependência de bebida alcoólica e outras drogas, e que forneça subsídios importantes para os profissionais que atendem aquelas que buscam e se encontram em tratamento / The present doctoral thesis was aimed at investigating the overuse of alcohol and other drugs in houses where youngsters live today, whose parents (one or both) have died as a consequence of Aids, and consists of a subproject belonging to a broader research entitled Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV/AIDS: Impacts of the Epidemic on Children and Youngsters in the city of São Paulo. The study had an exploratory-descriptive nature. Ten male and female youngsters participated in the study (with an age range of 15 to 24 years old), whose families live in the Northwest and West areas of the city and who participated in previous research. Data was collected through questionnaire-based interviews. Results pointed out to the fact that the context and the relations network in which the young participants were inserted succeeded in preventing them from overusing alcohol and other drugs. Moreover, being an orphan per se only was not seen as a key factor to the increase in terms of vulnerability in the group studied. In the houses visited, one female youngster could be considered an abusive alcoholic, upon which a case study was built. Overall, five semi-structured interviews were carried out, which have allowed to build up her network map. For content analysis purposes, interpretation of the framework of Vulnerability and Psychosocial Approach and Social Support Network Theory was used. In the case study, being orphan per se, as well as the detachment from her family, the fear of stigma, the discrimination for having parents who died of Aids, the lack of access to support, unemployment, among others, were seen as determining factors to increase her vulnerability and abusive use of alcohol. It was evident that the meetings and the talks stimulated by the social support network can contribute to contexts that are often times not included in other theoretical frameworks dealing with overuse of alcohol and other drugs. The Network Map allowed the female youngster to recover and strengthen the attachment with the members of her social support network (family, friends, and attachments in her new job), which are important mediations to help make her future plans come true. It also mitigated her individual vulnerability in relation to the overuse of alcohol in grieving moments. In addition to other methodologies developed on the basis of the framework of vulnerability and human rights, it is believed that such an approach fosters the development of relevant reflections as regards public policies that can tackle the reality of those studied youngsters. Thus, it is hoped that such an effort be everlasting so as to take actions that can prevent and suppress circumstances that are capable of increasing their vulnerability in terms of drug overuse and their dependence on alcohol and other drugs, thus providing important foundation for professionals that deal with people seeking or in treatment

Student Number : 0204770E - MEd research report - School of Education - Faculty of Humanities / The present study investigates a bereavement training programme with a group of volunteer lay counsellors. In South Africa, the number of orphans resulting from an increase in parental deaths from natural causes, such as AIDS and nonnatural causes, for example violence, is increasing rapidly. The increasing number of bereaved children is creating a demand for professional support services that cannot be met by the present number of trained professionals. To address this imbalance, the training of lay counsellors is proposed. It is thus relevant to train those who are willing to help with the necessary knowledge and skills in a bereavement training programme. The present study involves ten volunteers from a Community Centre. Qualitative research methods are employed to analyse the data that is gained from the preand post-training responses to the interviews and Case Examples. Content analysis is used to elucidate the themes that emerge from the collected data. The results of the present study indicate that perceptual and developmental changes have occurred within the volunteers following the training programme, however, it is evident that further training is necessary because of the limited ability that the volunteers demonstrate in practically transferring the knowledge to new cases. In terms of this finding it is clear that factors such as language, age, educational level and personal experiences of death are important criteria to consider in the selection of volunteers for a bereavement training programme. Furthermore, traditional African perspectives of death, cultural differences and HIV/AIDS awareness need to be incorporated into future bereavement training programmes. In terms of the outcomes of the study, a positive outcome is the revision of the Bereavement Programme for children, taking cognisance of cultural sensitiveness, to make it more applicable within the local context. The results of the study also highlight the limitations and implications of the present research, which are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.

Entre septembre 1947 et mars 1952, 1115 orphelins de la Shoah ont pu quitter l’Europe pour le Canada dans le cadre du War Orphans Project, un programme d’immigration mis en place par la principale organisation juive canadienne, le Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). Cette thèse porte à la fois sur les trajectoires de ces jeunes rescapés et sur l’action des organisations qui les ont accompagnés en Europe et au Canada. En se basant essentiellement sur les dossiers individuels de demande de visa des orphelins, elle reconstitue leurs parcours de guerre et de sortie de guerre. À travers une articulation constante des dimensions, elle souhaite interroger les circulations migratoires des jeunes rescapés au-delà d’une lecture téléologique qui ferait du départ au Canada une évidence. Ce travail tient aussi le dossier comme un lieu d’observation des discours et des pratiques des adultes qui les remplissent. Ces derniers ont formulé un discours sur le retour à la normale des orphelins. Ils ont aussi cherché à clarifier sur le papier des identités que la guerre avait rendu confuses et à présenter les jeunes rescapés comme des migrants désirables pour les autorités canadiennes. L’analyse des dossiers comme mise en récit et présentation de l’autre par un tiers met au jour les pratiques administratives de catégorisation et d’assignation identitaire et donne à voir comment les orphelins ont tenté de s’adapter et de résister. / Between September 1947 and March 1952, 1115 Holocaust orphans were allowed to migrate to Canada as part of a refugee project sponsored by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), at this time the main organization of the Canadian Jewry. This dissertation explores both the orphans’ trajectories and the work of the organizations that took care of them in Europe and Canada. Mostly based on the young survivors’ visa application files, it aims to map their paths during and immediately after the war through a microhistorical and transnational perspective. This dissertation also uses the casefiles as a material to grasp the discourses and practices of the adults that completed them. In every casefile, social and humanitarian workers developed ideas on how best to rehabilitate the orphans and help them to go back to a “normal life”. They also tried to stabilize identities confused by the war and to present the young survivors as desirable migrants in a way that was fitting Canadian authorities’ expectations. The analysis of the casefiles highlights how administrations categorize and impose identities but also how individuals manage to resist and adapt themselves.