A Case Study of Tongogara Refugee Camp. Charlot
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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AMONGST UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE CHILDREN: A CASE STUDY OF TONGOGARA REFUGEE CAMP. CHARLOT GODO B1231950 SUPERVISOR: MR. MASUKA FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK A DISSERTATION IS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITY AT BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK. DECEMBER 2015 Approval Form I……………………………………………………..certify that I supervised Charlot Godo in doing her dissertation entitled “Post-Traumatic Stress amongst unaccompanied refugee children : A case study of the Tongogara Refugee Camp”. Signature………………………………………… Date………………………….. Chairperson of the Board of Examiners The board of examiners has supervised and approved the dissertation and therefore recommends the University to approve the dissertation since it meets the requirements set by the board. Chairperson…………………………………….. Date…………………………. i Declaration and Release Form I, Charlot Godo, a social work student at Bindura University, being mindful of the fact that plagiarism is a serious offense, declare that: 1. This dissertation titled ‘Post-Traumatic Stress amongst unaccompanied refugee children: A case study of the Tongogara Refugee Camp’ is my own writing and has not been plagiarised. 2. I have observed research ethics. 3. I grant the university to use this study for academic purposes. Student’s name…………………………………….Signature…………………………………. Date…………………………………………… Permanent Address: 3222 38th Crescent Glen View 2 Harare ii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my lovely mother Tembiwe Dhliwayo and my sister Palma Godo. Thank you very much for your unceasing love and support. iii Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to appreciate the Almighty for being the source of my strength during the write of this dissertation. You showed me that in the presence of will-power no peak is insurmountable. I would also like to acknowledge the great work done by my supervisor Mr T. Masuka in the supervision of this dissertation. Without your guidance and support this dissertation would not have been a reality. Thank You. Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge Prophet J. and Pastor A. Moyounotsva for their encouragement and support. iv List of Abbreviations AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BDI Burundi DRC Democratic Republic of Congo ICRC International Committee of Red Cross PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder UN United Nations UNHCR United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees v Abstract The study focused on the Post-Traumatic Stress amongst unaccompanied refugee children at Tongogara Refugee Camp. The study participants included 15 unaccompanied refugee children residing in Tongogara Refugee Camp and the 7 key informants from various stakeholders at the refugee camp namely Department of Social Welfare, UNHCR, and Jesuits Refugee Services. The objectives of the study were to document the traumatic experiences of unaccompanied refugee children in Tongogara Refugee Camp, to identify signs of Post-Traumatic Stress amongst unaccompanied refugee children and to explore social work related services to address Post- Traumatic Stress. The researcher used qualitative methodology. The data collected was presented in form of tables and narratives. It was analysed using the thematic approach. The study guided by the ecological systems theory found evidence of memory loss, fear, depression, poor school performance, pessimism and sleeping disorders amongst unaccompanied refugee children at Tongogara Refugee Camp. The study recommends that social workers in the Department of Social Welfare should ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of the care arrangements for the unaccompanied refugee children in Tongogara refugee camp to minimise traumatic experiences. There is also need for UNHCR to ensure psychosocial projects as quiz sessions, tree of life sessions, home visits and sports to address the traumatic experiences of unaccompanied refugee children and provide durable solutions as resettlement to the problems of the unaccompanied refugee children to avoid further trauma through the protracted refugee situation. vi Definition of Terms Trauma is a psychologically distressing event that is outside the range of usual human experience often involving a sense of intense fear, terror and helplessness (Ferguson et al, 1998). Post-Traumatic Stress is an extreme form of stress that develops after exposure to traumatic experiences. An Unaccompanied Refugee Child is a person below a country’s legal age of majority who is separated from both parents and is not with, or being cared for by a guardian or other adult who by law or custom is responsible for them (UN ,2005). vii Contents Approval Form ................................................................................................................................. i Declaration and Release Form ........................................................................................................ ii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iv List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... v Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi List of tables and Figures ............................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY ............................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Conceptualisation of Post-Traumatic Stress and unaccompanied refugee children ................. 3 1.3 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Aim of the study........................................................................................................................ 5 1.5Objectives of the study............................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Research questions .................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Assumptions of the Study ......................................................................................................... 5 1.8 Justification of the Study .......................................................................................................... 6 1.9 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................ 8 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Theoretical Framework: Ecological systems theory ................................................................. 8 2.2 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Traumatic experiences of the unaccompanied refugee children .......................................... 10 2.2.2 The Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress among unaccompanied refugee children .................... 13 2.2.3 Social work related services being provided to address the Post-Traumatic Stress among unaccompanied refugee children. ................................................................................................. 15 2.3 Case studies ............................................................................................................................. 18 2.3.1 United States of America ..................................................................................................... 18 2.3.2 Kenya ................................................................................................................................... 20 2.4 Legislation, policies and programmes to help refugee children in Zimbabwe ....................... 20 viii 2.4.1 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children of 1989........................................... 21 2.4.2 Zimbabwe Children’s Act chapter 5:06 ............................................................................... 21 2.4.3 Zimbabwe Refugee Act Chapter 4:03 of 1983 .................................................................... 22 2.5 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 23 3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 23 3.1Research Methodology ...........................................................................................................