i A CASE STUDY ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EXPERIENCES OF THE CHILDREN OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AT BERG AUKAS CAMP IN GROOTFONTEIN, OTJOZONDJUPA REGION A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS IN EDUCATION IN LIFELONG LEARNING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY DORTHEA NANGHALI ETUWETE SHININGAYAMWE STUDENT NUMBER: 200218794 APRIL 2013 MAIN SUPERVISOR: DR.R K SHALYEFU CO-SUPERVISOR: DR AT.KANYIMBA i ABSTRACT In 1990, when Namibia gained independence, about 43000 exiled Namibians were repatriated back home from different countries. Included in this number were soldiers and refugees including children who were born during the liberation struggle. These children have been called “Exiled Kids,” “Returnees Children,” Ex-War Children,” SWAPO Children” and so on. However, later on they were officially called Children of the Liberation Struggle (CLS) after they had come to prominence in the country through widespread demonstrations, demanding that the government provide them with jobs, better educational opportunities, national identity documents and vocational training. There is little documentation in the literature relating to the social and economic experiences of the CLS. Therefore this research addresses this lacuna. The study applied qualitative research methods; with a mixed research design employing; narrative research and case studies. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with twelve (three males and nine females) CLS residing at Berg Aukas. A voice recorder was used to record the interviews with participants. The study found that the CLS grew up in children’s homes/shelters; they had never stayed with their biological parents, some had been brought up by their grandparents and after their death the CLS remained on their own, looking for family members, love, a sense of belonging and for a place they could call home. This situation made the CLS vulnerable and caused them to face various socio- economic challenges such as dropping out of school, falling pregnant at an early age, indulging in anti-social behaviour, having to move frequently, experiencing identity crises as well as social isolation, death and bereavement with ii minimal psychosocial support. The study recommends clinical therapy, psychological support and counselling for all the interviewed CLS. i Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. i DEDICATIONS ............................................................................................................................. iii DECLARATIONS ......................................................................................................................... iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................... v DIAGRAMS, TABLES AND FIGURES ...................................................................................... vi DIAGRAMS .............................................................................................................................. vi FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... vi TABLES .................................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Orientation of the Study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study........................................................................................ 7 1.4 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Delimitation of the Study ..................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................................ 8 1.7. Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................... 10 1.8. Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................. 12 2.1. Theoretical Framework of the Study ................................................................................ 12 2.2 Maslow Hierarchy of Needs .............................................................................................. 13 2.3. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory of Development. .................................................... 15 2.4 Experiences of Former Refugees Returning to their Country of Origin ............................ 22 ii 2.5 The Third Culture Kids (TCKs) ......................................................................................... 23 2.6 The Lived Experiences of CLS in Namibia ....................................................................... 25 2.7 Social and Economic Support Provided to CLS from 1990 - 2008 in Namibia. ............... 33 2.8 The Unruly Behaviour of Namibian CLS .......................................................................... 37 2.9 Children’s Homes and Frequent Family Displacement ..................................................... 39 2.10 The Crisis of Identity ....................................................................................................... 42 2.11. Lack of Psychosocial Support ......................................................................................... 47 2.12. Grief, Loss, Death, Bereavement and Suicidal Attempt ................................................. 49 2. 13. Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................................ 55 CHAPTER: THREE: Research Design and Methodology .......................................................... 56 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 56 3.2 Research Design ................................................................................................................. 56 3.2.1 Case Study Approach .................................................................................................. 56 3.2.2. Narrative Research Design ......................................................................................... 60 3.3 Population .......................................................................................................................... 63 3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedures ...................................................................................... 63 3.5 Research Instruments ......................................................................................................... 64 3.5.1 Unstructured Interview ............................................................................................... 65 3.6 Data Collection Procedures ................................................................................................ 68 3.7 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 70 3.8. The Role of the Researcher ............................................................................................... 72 3.9. Summary of the Chapter ................................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER: FOUR: Presentation of Results (Description, Analysis and Transformation of Data) ..................................................................................................................................................... 74 iii 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 74 Section A ...................................................................................................................................... 75 4.1.1 Participants by Gender .................................................................................................... 75 4.1.2 Age Distribution .............................................................................................................. 76 4.1.3 Arrival Age in Namibia................................................................................................... 77 4.1.4 Original Country of Birth ................................................................................................ 78 4.1.5 Region of Origin in Namibia .......................................................................................... 79 4.1.6 Status of Biological Parents ..................................................................................... 80 4.1. 7 Highest Level of Education...........................................................................................