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Tens of thousands of children in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries are living as child Buddhist monks. Many are in temples and monasteries far from home and do not see their parents for months, even years. Some are as young as 6 years of age.
The aim of this article is to engage scholars, practitioners, child rights advocates, and others in a conversation around the rights and vulnerabilities of child Buddhist monks and children susceptible to being entrusted to monasteries to live as child monks. This group of children receives relatively little attention in…
This article explores mental health related issues in children and adolescents in childcare institutions in Sri Lanka.
Abstract
Background
Child care institutions (CCIs) in Sri Lanka (SL) provide residence to over 14,000 children. These children have a high risk of developing psychological problems. However, there has been no prior scientific inquiry into mental health issues of institutionalized children in SL.
Objective
To investigate the emotional and behavioral problems of children living in CCIs in Kandy District, and to explore associated factors.
Participants and setting
Ten CCIs in Kandy District were selected and all children aged 6–18 years were recruited.
Methods
Child…
Abstract
Once a young person who receives care in an alternative care facility reaches the age of 18, it is mandatory by the law in Sri Lanka that he/she should leave the care and start an independent living as an adult. Research has shown that young people who have been in such care are more likely to experience adverse outcomes when entering the society as they were not adequately prepared for life after care. It was observed that this context leads to the risk of discontinuation of education, unemployment, increased prevalence of abuse and psychological issues, which makes them…
This research on the institutionalization of children in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka was carried out by Save the Children with the support of the Department of Probation and Children Care Services and National Institute of Social Development. The study was aimed at examining the factors that cause families in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka to place their children in institutions. The study was also designed to develop recommendations for deinstitutionalization and family reintegration based on findings from the research, which are provided in this report.
In Sri Lanka institutional care has become the sole option for children who do not receive adequate care when the family unit is challenged or destroyed by internal (parental loss or separation, parental conflict) or external (war, disaster and displacement) factors. The recourse to institutional care is frequently practiced to solve family problems not related to parental care. Poverty is also frequently cited as aajor contributory factor.
Most of the residential institutions in Sri Lanka are run by voluntary organizations, officially defined as “voluntary children’s homes”. Residential…
The goal of New Beginnings is, “Children affected by armed conflict and violence in the family or community are protected from further harm and supported in gaining safe access to family and/or government support, as appropriate, and social inclusion in the wider community.” Its strategic objectives are:
1. To enable children affected by armed conflict (e.g., former child soldiers, separated or displaced children, children who lost opportunities due to armed conflict) to be resettled and/or reintegrated into their families, schools, and communities.
2. In selected project areas, to…
Children’s institutions have been in existence in Sri Lanka since 1900. Although the Sri Lankan government recognizes the dangers of institutional care and the need for alternatives, little has been done to address these issues. This presentation presents research on the policy environment, the quality of institutional care, and the alternative care options available to children in Sri Lanka. The research aimed to map children’s institutions in four Sri Lankan provinces; determine the current quality of services and identify good practice; assess and identify gaps in existing policies,…
In large-scale emergencies, food aid is often one of the biggest and longest-running responses. Oxfam is concerned about the standardisation of such food-aid responses and its appropriateness in the current post-tsunami context. Where food is available, and markets functioning, cash is an appropriate alternative to food aid.
Oxfam is publishing this briefing note because it is concerned about challenging the bias towards food aid in the current design of relief responses, and to raise awareness and expertise among relief workers on cash-transfer programmes and local food purchase.…
Principal findings of study revealed that institutionalization is becoming an option for families in difficult circumstances in the absence of alternative forms of care (for a summary of the key findings, click here). While government policies explicitly state that poverty should not be an admission criterion, 50% of children in voluntary institutions were there for poverty. Moreover, 80% of children in non-state institutions (generally termed “orphanages”) had at least one living parent…