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BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION FUCULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMMANITIES DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK CHALLENGES FACED BY ORPHARNS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN RURAL ZIMBABWE. CASE STUDY OF KWEKWE DISTRICT, ZHOMBE AREA PREPARED BY: PATIENCE MUGOTA REGISTRATION NUMBER: B1128204 RESEARCH SUPERVISOR: MR MASUKA DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK AT BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION NOVEMBER 2014 RELEASE FORM NAME OF STUDENT: Patience Mugota DISSERTATION TITLE: Challenges faced by orphans and other vulnerable children in rural Zimbabwe. Case study of Kwekwe district, Zhombe area DEGREE TITLE: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Social Work YEAR THIS DEGREE WAS GRANTED: 2014 Permission is hereby granted to the Bindura University Library to produce single copies of this dissertation and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purpose. Only the author reserves other publication rights and; neither the dissertation nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s written permission. SIGNED …………………………………… PERMANENT ADDRESS 10 Opern way Sourtherton Harare DATE OCTOBER 2014 APPROVAL FORM The undersigned certify that they have supervised the student Patience Mugota, dissertation titled: an investigation into the challenges faced by orphans and other vulnerable children in rural Zimbabwe .case study of Kwekwe district, Zhombe area. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Social Work. …………………... ………………… SUPERVISOR DATE …………………….. …………………… CHAIRPERSON DATE …………………….. …………………… EXTERNAL EXAMINER DATE DECLARATION FORM I........................................................................declare that this project is an original copy of my own work and has not been published before or submitted to any other institution/university. Signed……………………………………………….. Date…………………….. Registration number ………………………………… Physical address……………………………………............................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................... DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to all orphans and other vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. ‘There can be no keener revelation of society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children’ (Mandela in NAP Child-Friendly version, 2006-2010:1) ABSTRACT This study was a situation analysis of the challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children in Zombie. Specifically, the study assessed the educational attainment, economic status, social isolation, adjustment, discrimination and psycho-social status of OVC, the characteristics of the care-givers of OVC and the support systems for OVC. Therefore, 20 OVC, 5 caregivers and 5 OVCs service- providing organisations were selected as respondents. A survey research design was used. The study found that OVCs and their households faced problems such as school dropout, low educational performance; economic and food insecurity, lack of adequate clothing; social isolation and emotional hardships due to separation of siblings; discrimination, and neglect. Children’s housing conditions, toilet facilities, and access to clean water and health facilities were poor. The majority of guardians were unemployed and unable to fulfil the needs of the OVCs in their care. It is recommended that support systems for OVCs be strengthened. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writing of this Dissertation is a product of shared experience and support of the following people mentioned in this section. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Supervisor, Mr Masuka for his commitment to the writing of this Dissertation. It would not have been possible to successfully put together this dissertation without his valuable guidance, support and, critic of my work. I also acknowledge the spiritual support and encouragement that l was given by the members of ZAOGA FIF. I thank you and may the almighty bless you Furthermore, I would like to thank my husband Austin Museredza, my mother Bertha Mugota and my brother Kwirirai Mugota for the financial and social support that they gave me during my studies . I would also like to thank all the Zhombe respondents for their cooperation in the collection of data thus making this research successful. Thank you. Table of Contents RELEASE FORM ....................................................................................................................... i APPROVAL FORM .................................................................................................................. ii DECLARATION FORM ......................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... vi ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. x CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction to the study ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the study ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Conceptualisation of psychosocial challenges faced by OVC ............................................. 5 1.3 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Aims of the study ................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.6 Research questions ............................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Assumptions of the study ..................................................................................................... 7 1.8 Definition of key terms ........................................................................................................ 8 1.9 Significance of the study ...................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Chapter summary ............................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 10 LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 10 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 Theoretical framework ....................................................................................................... 10 2.1.1The social capital argument ............................................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory ............................................................................... 12 2.2 Literature review ................................................................................................................ 13 2.2.1Living conditions of OVC ........................................................................................ 13 2.2.1 Poor housing conditions .......................................................................................... 13 2.2.2 Guardians are the elderly ......................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Poverty ..................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.4 Lack of basic necessities.......................................................................................... 14 vii 2.2.5 Poor health care ....................................................................................................... 14 2.2.6 External Care and Support for OVC ........................................................................ 15 2.3 Psychosocial challenges being faced by orphans and vulnerable children ........................ 15 2.3.1 Interventions addressing challenges being faced by OVC Zimbabwe .................... 16 2.4 Case studies ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Government policies and programmes to enhance the psychosocial functioning of OVCs. .................................................................................................................................................