Displaying 1 - 10 of 41
ABSTRACT
The extent of the vulnerability of orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe has been on the increase. To investigate the challenges faced in addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Marondera, focus group discussions and interviews were utilised. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data in this study and the data was presented in themes. The findings from the study indicated that there was a need to increase the capacity of the Social Welfare Department. They also indicated the need for proper alignment of policy development and implementation, as well…
ABSTRACT
Impoverishment and social exclusion of Children with Disabilities is pervasive in Zimbabwe. What is further disconcerting to the plight of Children with Disabilities is a fragile economic environment where not enough material resources can be channelled towards guaranteeing their enhanced social functioning. The author did a synthesis of the existing academic and policy literature and uses social work lens to undertake a situational analysis of current Zimbabwean child protection system dynamics with regards to Children with Disabilities hereafter referred to as CWDs. The Ministry…
Abstract
Violence against children and adolescents, a highly prevalent problem, is a clear violation of child rights and has detrimental effects on later life outcomes. Programs that alleviate poverty address a structural determinant of child vulnerability and can thereby reduce child abuse. This paper investigates whether the Government of Zimbabwe’s Harmonized Social Cash Transfer (HSCT) Program, which combines cash transfers with complementary services, affects youth exposure to physical violence. The analysis uses data from a non-experimental impact evaluation and a difference-in-…
ABSTRACT
Zimbabwe adopted the National Orphan Care Policy at the turn of the millennium due to a sharp rise in the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The policy embraced a ‘six-tier system’ that spelled out six social safety nets for OVC. The six-tier system was seen as a cheaper route towards curtailing the problem of child protection that had grown beyond the capacity of the government. It invoked the traditional social safety nets that had been part of traditional African society. Traditional African cultural values were centered on the notion of…
Abstract
Family constitutes more than simple living arrangements, and these systems are of pivotal development importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The diversity of family structures and types in sub-Saharan Africa has warranted an examination of the various policies and laws in the region. This paper examines all policy and laws related to families in the South, West, East and Central regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The paper highlights the sundry of policies and laws that are influenced by cultural and religious differences within and across regions. Issues relating to patriarchy and…
Abstract
The desire to understand young adults’ transition into adulthood from informal kinship-based foster care has been growing. This article examines the challenges encountered by, and the opportunities available to, young adults as they transition from informal kinship-based foster care to independent living in the Bikita District of Zimbabwe. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 young people who had left care and key informants. Data were analyzed using a thematic framework. Key findings included the young adults’ need for proper preparation in formal education, health, social…
ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom (UK) and Zimbabwe have shared political history, with ties emanating from colonization in 1890. Social work as a profession in Zimbabwe traces its history from colonisation, Kaseke (1991), where the profession was imported into Zimbabwe in 1964, but later on went through an indigenisation process. In theory, the legislation governing child protection in Zimbabwe borrows much from the UK system, however in practice, notwithstanding that the Zimbabwean system is not fraught with flaws entirely, there are still valuable lessons that can be derived from the UK child…
ABSTRACT
Using indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu in social work with children empowers them, their families, communities and workers. Yet, the potential of using frames that draw on indigenous ways of knowing, in children’s work, remain unrealised since social workers prefer Western models and theories. Ubuntu inspired models of social work view children from family, community, environmental and spiritual perspectives. In contrast, Western models are inspired by individualitic values, governmental policies and professional viewpoints. However, as will be shown in this article,…
The aim of this report from SOS Children's Villages is to increase the knowledge and understanding of the needs and rights of young people ageing out of alternative care around the world, in order to inform strategies, policies and services to improve their life chances and outcomes through appropriate preparation for leaving care as well as after-care support. The specific objectives of the research were to highlight facts and figures (or in some cases, lack thereof) on the experiences and challenges of young people leaving care, including through their own voice and the testimony of experts…
This report highlights key findings from a social norms study conducted in Zimbabwe to understand the drivers of violence affecting children. Many drivers of violence against children may not be social in nature and instead are related to structural or interpersonal risk factors. However, many drivers of violence are normative in nature. In order to prevent the root causes of these manifestations of violence, we need to understand the elements of what makes a belief a social norm.
Several theorists have written about what defines a social norm and how best to measure social norms. Many…