Assessing the Effectiveness of Children Safe Spaces (Children's Corners) on the Lives of Orphans and Vulnerable Children: A Case of Chanyungu Children's Corner in Machinga District
Downloads
The HIV and AIDS epidemic is exerting the pressure on the immediate and extended family that the traditional care and support system has been stretched to the limit. Despite this, the family and the community are still the best providers of care and support to children. In response to the negative effects that children are facing, Government of Malawi introduced childrens corners as a community-based structure that, if properly implemented, can offer community parenting to address some of the childrens challenges.
In exploring the effectiveness of these child safe spaces (childrens corners) on the psychosocial lives of orphans and vulnerable children, this study will be carried out in Chanyungu Village in Machinga District - Malawi. The researcher has an assumption of that childrens corners help to bring change in the lives of children such that if the programs are more targeted on the vulnerable children they can help to reverse the impact of vulnerability.
This research will try to establish that vulnerable children acquire adequate information from childrens corners and it is this information that will help them change behaviour because they interact with their peers and share experiences. Previous studies done in other countries has also found that effective interventions such as peer education, resilience building are needed to help the vulnerable children maintain coping skills on challenges of life.
Downloads
Adam J, Kamuzora F., (2008). Research Methods for Business and Social Studies. Mzumbe: Morogoro.
Aldridge, R. and Goldman, J. (2010) Child Development Theories. Available at: http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm. (Accessed on16 March 2022).
Alves V, Riggs D, & Brackett, N (2015). Psychosocial Support and Social and Emotional Learning for Children and Youth in Emergency Settings. New York: Inee
Ainsworth, M. (2008) Basic Theories and Principles of Child Development. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ainsworth. (Accessed on16 March 2022).
Anger A, Akesson B, Stark, L, Flouri & Boothby, N (2011). The Impact of the School based Psychosocial Structured Activities Program on Conflict Affected Children in Northern Uganda. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 52, pp1124-1133
Alufandika G, Moyo T, Kastoner AV & McCauley E, (2016). Malawi Children’s Corners Situational Assessment Technical Report. Bethesda: University Research Co.
Ager, L & Metzler, A (2012). Child Friendly Spaces: A Structured Review of the Current Evidence Base. Mailmall: Columbia University.
Ager A, Ager W & Stavron V, (2011). Inter-Agency Guide to the Evaluation of Psychosocial Programming in Emergencies. Mailmall: Columbia University.
Baldwin, Wendy (2011), ‘Creating “safe spaces” for adolescent girls’ in Promoting healthy, safe, and productive transitions to adulthood Series, Brief No. 9, The Population Council
Bauman, L & Germann, S (2005). Psychosocial Impact of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic on Children and Youth.
Beard, B (2005). Orphan Care in Malawi, Current Practices; Journal of Community Health Nursing 22(2): 105-15
Browne & Evie (2013), ‘Child-friendly spaces for adolescent girls in emergency settings in GSDRC Help Desk Research Report, 26 April 2013
Davis, L & Ilitus S, (2014). A Practical Guide for Developing Child Friendly Spaces. London: Pearlman.
Babbie, E. (1998) The Practice of Social Research. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Becker, D. and Weyermann, B. (2006) Gender, Conflict Transformation and the Psychosocial Approach. Bern: Swiss Development Cooperation.
Boyden, J. (2003) “Children under Fire: Challenging Assumptions about Children’s Resilience.” Children, Youth and Environments 13(1), pp. 1-18.
Creswell, J.W (2012). Education Research: Planning, Conducting and Evaluating Qualitative and Quantitative Research (4th ed). Pearson Education Inc: Boston.
Connolly, P. and Hayden, J. (2007) From Conflict to Peace Building: The Power of Early Childhood Initiatives, Lessons from Around the World. Redmond: World Forum Foundation, Publisher.
Creswell, J. W. (2013) Research Design: Qualittative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approach.4th ed. Lincolin: Sage.
Creswell, J.W. (2009) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches. 3rd Ed. London: Sage Publication.
Foster, G., Levine & Williamson (2005). A Generation at Risk: The Global Impact of HIV/AIDS on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Cambridge: Cup. PP93-133
Gilliam, Melissa (2012), ‘From Intervention to Invitation: Reshaping Adolescent Sexual Health through Storytelling’ in African Journal of Reproductive Health, 16(2), 2012, 189 – 196
International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) (2016), Creating an enabling Environment for Adolescent Sexual And Reproductive Health: What We Know
Jana, M (2016). Study of Children’s Corners in Malawi. Mercantile: Lilongwe
Kamwendo, A & Kawale R, (2012). Psychosocial Support Source Book for Vulnerable Children in Malawi. Lilongwe: Delta Batch.
Kamwendo A, (2008). Children’s Corner Operational Guidelines (2008). Mercantile: Lilongwe Malawi Government (2013), National Youth Policy
Malawi Government (1999). Best Practices on Community Based Care for Orphans. Chancellor College publications: Zomba
Malawi Government (2006), Child Protection Training Manual Resource Kit Government print: Lilongwe.
Malawi Government Impact Evaluation of the National Plan of Action for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (2005-2009/ 2010-2011)
Malawi Government (2017) Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16
Malawi Government (1995) The Constitution of the Republic of Malawi
Malawi Government / UNICEF (2008). Children's Corner Operational Guidelines. Lilongwe, Malawi.
Malawi Government/UNICEF (2014). Children`s Corner Facilitators Guide, Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Lilongwe, Malawi
Munthali A, Robson E, Abane A, & Poster G (2015). Fostering Orphanhood and Schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa; Journal of Biosocial Science 42(02) pp. 141-164.
REPSS (2009). Psychosocial Support for Vulnerable Children. Durban. Pearlman.Soul C, (2004). Training Manual 3: Doing Qualitative Research with Children, Soul City, Johannesburg
Copyright (c) 2022 Lawrence Matiti, Dr.T. Velmurugan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
