Against a burgeoning worldwide discourse on the psychological and emotional impact of HIV&AIDS on children’s development, I conducted an empirical inquiry to explore how a group of nine orphaned and vulnerable children who were residing in a children’s home negotiated pathways to well-being while they were affected by HIV&AIDS. The study aimed to explore, understand and describe the phenomenon of well-being within the specific context of the child participants’ perspectives of their life-worlds. The study was informed by a qualitative and instrumental case study design within an interpretivist paradigm. In addition, it was guided by a conceptual framework derived from key concepts within the fields of HIV&AIDS, positive psychology, coping and resilience theories. The study employed both inductive and deductive methods for knowledge development. I utilised task-based participatory activities to guide the informal and conversational interviews with the children in the study as the main data generation strategy. I incorporated the use of informal observations and an examination of documentation as additional data generation methods. By means of a thematic analysis approach incorporating principles of the constructivist grounded theory analysis of the children’s expressions, I gained insights that informed my understanding of the children’s perceptions and experiences of well-being, risks, challenges and stressors. Findings indicate that the children in the study experienced risks, challenges and stressors arising from personal illness, stigma, discrimination, orphanhood, residential care, death and bereavement. The study has further revealed that those children who portrayed characteristics of well-being and resilient adaptation utilised psychosocial coping mechanisms. In addition, they were supported and strengthened by their positive intrapersonal characteristics and affirmative relationships that offered emotional and psychosocial support within their environments. The findings of the study suggest that feelings of well-being, hope and optimism might have co-existed with feelings of despair and hopelessness in the daily lives of the children in the study who were affected by HIV&AIDS. I concluded this study by suggesting that the well-being experiences of the children in this study may exist on a continuum and may depend on specific events, occasions or incidents on a day-to-day basis. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Focusing on the rights of children who are deprived of their family environment and remain in child-headed households in the context of the HIV epidemic in Africa cannot be more relevant at present as the continent faces a significant increase in the number of children who are left to fend for themselves due to the impact of the epidemic. The impact of the epidemic is so severe that it is likened to an armed conflict. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 22.4 million people are living with HIV, and in 2008 alone, 2 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses. Such massive loss of human lives is itself a tragedy. However, the repercussions of the epidemic suffered by children may be less visible, yet are just as far-reaching, and in all likelihood longer lasting in their effects. Initially, it appeared that children were only marginally affected by the epidemic. Unfortunately, it is now clear that children are at the heart of the epidemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 14 million children lost their parents to AIDS-related illnesses and an unimaginable number of children consequently find themselves in deepened poverty. Traditionally, children who are deprived of their family environment in Africa have been cared for by extended families. However, the HIV epidemic has dramatically affected the demography of many African societies. As the epidemic continues to deplete resources of the affected families and communities, extended families and communities find it more and more difficult to provide adequate care to the increasing number of children who are deprived of parental care. As a result, more and more children are taking care of themselves in child-headed households. The foremost responsibility of states with regards to children who are deprived of parental care is to support families and communities so that they are able to provide adequate care to children in need of care, thereby preventing children from being deprived of their family environment. While strengthening families and communities, as required by articles 20 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and 25 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, as well as other international guidelines such as the 2009 UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, states also have the responsibility to provide ‘special protection and assistance’ to children who are already deprived of their family environment and are living in child-headed households. The important question is how to interpret the right to alternative care, and special protection and assistance, with respect to children in child-headed households. The study examines the international standards and norms regarding children who are deprived of their family environment including children in child-headed households and explores the ways those children are supported and protected in South Africa, against the background of related developments in a number of different African countries, including Namibia, Southern Sudan and Uganda. In 2002, the South African Law Reform Commission made the important recommendation that child-headed households should be legally recognised. The Children’s Amendment Act (No 41 of 2007), which amended the comprehensive Children’s Act (No 38 of 2005) gave effect to this recommendation by legally recognising child-headed households under prescribed conditions. It is a bold step to strengthen the protection and assistance given to children in child-headed households. However, child-headed households should not be legally recognised unless all the necessary protection and assistance measures are effectively put in place. In order to design and implement the measures of protection and assistance to children in child-headed households, a holistic children’s rights-based approach should be a guiding light. A rights-based approach, which articulates justiciable rights, establishes a link between the entitlement of children as rights-holders and legal obligations of states as duty-bearers. States have the primary responsibility to provide appropriate protection and assistance to children who are deprived of their family environment. This is a legal obligation of states, not a charitable action. A rights-based approach is further important in that it ensures that both the process of mitigation strategies and the outcome of such efforts are firmly based on human rights standards. The study argues that legal recognition should be given to child-headed household only after a careful evaluation based on the international standards with regard to children deprived of their family environment. It further argues that measures of ‘special protection and assistance’ should be devised and implemented using a rights-based approach respecting, among others, children’s rights to non-discrimination, to participation and to have their best interests given a priority. / Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

This exploratory study investigated the psychosocial impact on rural grandmothers of Gutu, Zimbabwe, caring for their grandchildren orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The participants included 12 paternal and maternal grandmother-caregivers from four districts of Gutu, whose ages ranged from 56 to 76 years with orphans in their care ranging from infants to 18 years. The present study made use of Erikson's psychosocial theory of development on late adulthood. Data were gathered using semi-structured open-ended interviews in the participants' homes. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the audio-taped data. Findings reveal that most grandmothers are experiencing a personal toll in dealing with the late adult crisis of integrity versus despair, including finding it difficult to resolve the grief of losing children while engaging in full time grandparenting in a stigmatising society. Participants reported a need for support and interventions tailored to their unique needs. Counselling, social support, financial assistance, and skills and knowledge about HIV/AIDS are therefore recommended. / Psychology / M.Sc. (Psychology)

The study investigated the academic performance of orphaned secondary school learners between the ages of thirteen and eighteen in the Shamavunga Circuit. The study used the qualitative method. This included the sampling of ten orphaned learners from one school in the Shamavunga Circuit. The qualitative component of the study involved sampling three educators and three guardians of orphaned learners from one secondary school in the Shamavunga Circuit. This study was aimed at investigation the perceptions of educators and learners of the academic performance of orphaned learners at secondary schools in the Shamavunga Circuit, Limpopo province. The study found that the educators were of the view that, as compared to their counterparts, orphaned learners are more likely to display unruly behaviour, a lack of concentration and an inability to complete their written schoolwork. The educators also suggested that because the majority of orphaned learners were heading their families (child-headed), there was no one to monitor and supervise them. On the other hand, it has been suggested that the majority of orphaned learners were staying with their caregivers/guardians. The study also revealed that the educators were not well trained in terms of dealing with orphaned learners. In other words they lacked the proper skills and knowledge required to deal with orphaned learners. On the other words, the orphaned learners were of the view that some of the educators were not treating them well as they called them names and they were also not providing them with the support that they should have been receiving from adults who should be playing a parental role in their lives. Furthermore, some of the orphaned learners suggested that the caregivers (guardians) with whom they lived misused their grants for their own benefit. The study also revealed that the guardians of orphaned learners were often not coping and were uneducated. Accordingly, they were unable to adequately meet the needs of these orphaned learners. In conclusion, the study recommended interventions at the school, government as well as the community levels. For example, it is suggested that grandparents (guardians) be provided with support as they were becoming exhausted as a result of having to look after the orphaned learners. It is also suggested that the government build more drop-in centres and orphanages and also provide training for the educators who have to deal with the orphaned learners. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This exploratory study investigated the psychosocial impact on rural grandmothers of Gutu, Zimbabwe, caring for their grandchildren orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The participants included 12 paternal and maternal grandmother-caregivers from four districts of Gutu, whose ages ranged from 56 to 76 years with orphans in their care ranging from infants to 18 years. The present study made use of Erikson's psychosocial theory of development on late adulthood. Data were gathered using semi-structured open-ended interviews in the participants' homes. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the audio-taped data. Findings reveal that most grandmothers are experiencing a personal toll in dealing with the late adult crisis of integrity versus despair, including finding it difficult to resolve the grief of losing children while engaging in full time grandparenting in a stigmatising society. Participants reported a need for support and interventions tailored to their unique needs. Counselling, social support, financial assistance, and skills and knowledge about HIV/AIDS are therefore recommended. / Psychology / M.Sc. (Psychology)

Author master's thesis analyzes the problems of implementation of public-private partnership in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care as an example of the Sverdlovsk region. The object of the research master's thesis is the authorities, state and municipal agencies, non-profit organizations involved in social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care. Subject of research - the forms and mechanisms for public-private partnership implementing in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care in the Sverdlovsk region. Scientific novelty of the work is as follows: The essence of public-private partnership in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care; The problems of interaction of subjects of public-private partnership in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care in the Sverdlovsk region on the basis of the author's concrete empirical research; The design of programs to enhance public-private partnership in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children left without parental care in the Sverdlovsk region on the basis of the mechanisms of public-private partnership. The practical significance of the dissertation research is that the resulting materials can be used to develop guidelines for public authorities and local government, state and municipal organizations, socially-oriented non-governmental organizations on the issues of cooperation in the field of social adaptation of orphans and children without parental care. Developed project can be implemented in practice. Dissertation materials can be used to develop training courses for students enrolled in "State and municipal management". / Автор магистерской диссертации анализирует проблемы реализации общественно-государственного партнерства в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей на примере Свердловской области. Объектом исследования магистерской диссертации являются органы власти, государственные и муниципальные организации, некоммерческие организации, участвующие в социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей. Предмет исследования — формы и механизмы реализации общественно-государственного партнерства в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей на территории Свердловской области. Научная новизна работы заключается в следующем: - Раскрыта сущность общественно-государственного партнерства в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей; - Выявлены проблемы взаимодействия субъектов общественно-государственного партнерства в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей в Свердловской области на основе проведенного автором конкретно-эмпирического исследования; - Разработан проект Программы совершенствования общественно-государственного партнерства в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей на территории Свердловской области на основе механизмов общественно-государственного партнерства. Практическая значимость диссертационного исследования заключается в том, что полученные материалы могут быть использованы при разработке методических рекомендаций для органов государственной власти и местного самоуправления, государственных и муниципальных организаций, социально направленных общественных организаций по вопросам организации взаимодействия в сфере социальной адаптации детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей. Разработанный проект может быть внедрен в практику. Материалы диссертации могут быть использованы для разработки учебных курсов для студентов, обучающихся по направлению «Государственное и муниципальное управление».

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 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 investigate the responsiveness of rural primary schools in Zimbabwe to the needs of in-school OVC. The study adopted a qualitative approach in which the phenomenological and case study designs were employed to study in-school OVC in their natural setting. The target population for the study comprises OVCs, principals and school counsellors. From this population, a sample of 24 participants was purposively drawn. Data was collected from the participants in the three sampled rural primary schools in Masvingo district through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis and observation. Tesch’s model was applied to analyse data qualitatively. The study revealed that rural primary schools’ capacity to address the needs of in-school OVC was deemed ineffective by all the participants due to a myriad of factors which include inter-alia: lack of specialist school-counsellors; lack of funds to initiate school-based projects aimed to assist OVC; lack of a comprehensive school-feeding scheme; and a dearth of workshops to equip principals and teachers with knowledge to handle and deal with OVC. To improve the responsiveness of schools to the needs of OVC the study recommends that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education should train specialist counsellors in teachers’ colleges. The study also recommends that the government should increase funds allocated for the Basic Education Assisted Module scheme to cater for more OVC. In addition, the study recommends that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should conduct workshops in schools on how to deal with challenges confronting OVC. Lastly a model to improve rural primary schools’ capacity to address the needs of OVC was suggested, which proposes partnerships among stakeholders in projects aimed at supporting in-school OVC. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

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)