Findings and Discussion
6.5 Orphans' social well-being .1 Educational status of orphans
6.5.2 Orphans' work
Child labour has been of major concern internationally related to children's rights and their well-being. Concerns have already been raised about the work of children especially those activities that jeopardize children's well-being (Bequele and Boyden 1988, Nieuwenhuys
1995, White 1994). Although there is no clear distinction between what is acceptable and what is not in children's work, it is clear enough that many of children's activities may conflict with their rights to education and care. For instance, some tasks considered by parents and caregivers as minor might be so time demanding for a child that he or she has little time to play or learn. Concerning children's work, the caregivers asked whether the orphans and non-orphans partake tasks at home and 'outdoor' activities. These questions were intended not only to elicit information on how many of the orphans and non-orphans participate in domestic or other tasks but also to give the length of hours orphans and non- orphans participate in various tasks.
The findings indicate that all of the orphan and non-orphan children (100%) partake in tasks in and around the home and farm. Children in the study areas participate fully in the activities of the families, carryout various tasks including domestic and agricultural tasks as young as ten years old. They spent time fetching wood and water, helping families in farm, keeping livestock and performing household chores. Although these are generally considered as common tasks for children in the study areas, the pertinent question, however, lies in how frequently compared to others the orphans carry out these tasks and the impact of it on their educational achievement and well-being in general. The table below shows the time the orphan and non-orphan children participate in domestic or other tasks.
Table 6.9: Length of hours orphan and non orphans participate in domestic and other tasks by sex
Orphan
Non-orphan
male female male female
no.
%
no.
%
no.
%
no.
%
Length 1.5-5.4 hours
64 81.1 52
70.3 61 87.1 53 81.5
of hours
5.5-7.5 hours 15
18.9 22
29.7 9 12.9 12
18.5
Total 79 100.0
74 100.0 70
100.0 65
100.0
The table 6.9 above indicates that all orphan children contribute to the domestic chores of their households. The findings illustrate more male orphans 18.9% work 5.5-7.5 hours a day compared to 12.9% of male non-orphans. It is also shown that 29.7% of female orphans work 5.5-7.5 hours a day compared to 18.5 female non-orphans. Orphans in the studied areas are involved in work for longer hours than non-orphans. Similar study (Mckerrow, Smart and Snyman, 1996: 14) reveals that orphans living with extended families are often expected to perform a great deal of extra work, far exceeding a child's normal capabilities.
Findings (Manna and Gebremeskel, 2000: 34) show that there is a distinction among urban and rural children. Children in rural areas work longer hours than children in urban areas.
The study areas in the present study are mixed, 3 are urban while 5 rural. In rural areas children are expected to help their families in farming herding, fetch water and housework.
Similarly, orphans who are living in rural families, whose livelihood depend on agriculture work longer hours than orphans who are placed in urban families. As reported by
caregivers older orphans (aged 13-17) have to work for three hours in the morning before attending school in the afternoon (see appendix 2b). Four out often interviewed orphans
explained there are certainly problems with schools, especially in the harvest season.
Children reported they become tired. This is illustrated in the following words extracted from the in-depth interviews:
During agricultural season I wake up early in the morning and work until mid-day in the field, and then I go to school in the afternoon without being done my schoolwork.
Sometimes I miss school, because I feel tired, if I go, I could not follow learning in class (Rahel, aged 16).
I often help my uncle in farm carrying agricultural implements, weeding and harvesting. In the harvesting season I get time rarely to work my assignments and go to school being tired (Mussie, aged 12).
All (ten) of the orphans interviewed reported the poverty of their caregiver families, and some of them involve in piece work to earn money. Six out often orphans mentioned that they get money support from doing petty trade, and the money is used to buy food,
clothing, shoes, school uniform, writing notes, pens and pay school fees. Work outside the family may include working as daily labourer, working in other families plot or in the fields to provide for their needs. One informant orphan child stated:
My grandmother is poor that it is difficult for her to assist me I just do piece work to help myself (Abraham, aged 14).
The findings show that orphan girls work longer hours (5.5-7.5) than orphan boys
(respectively 29.7% and 18.9%). Girls are generally doing more domestic work. From the in-depth interview with the orphans it is found that girls do the following work: trudging long distances to fetch firewood, animal fodder and water, growing and harvesting food, cooking and caring for her family, and baking Injera (fermented millet pancakes). Manna and Gebremeskel's (2000: 34) study shows girls are expected to do more work at home than boys. In some families the situation of orphans could be worse because they might be expected to do extra-work as a compensation for the care they get from the family.
Generally, as children's activities are difficult to record (Nieuwenhuys, 1995), one could
assume that the time spend in domestic work is underestimated. Many orphan children may work longer than presented here and thus they may not have enough time for study and play. Moreover, they have so many responsibilities, which deprive them of the time to do other activities such as schoolwork or play.