The framework also suggests mitigating factors that can reduce the negative effects of the orphan. In the present study, the results outlined in the framework analysis (see diagram below) are intended outcomes of the orphan reunification and rehabilitation program.
Chapter Two Literature Review
- Orphans in Africa
- Orphans in Eritrea
- The role of the extended family in orphan care/orphan reunification
- The welfare state
This is because increasing numbers of orphans in need of care shared the already depleted resources of the extended family. The sense of duty and responsibility of the extended family towards orphans is the norm.
Chapter Three
Historical Background of Eritrea in the Context of Child Welfare
Before the colonial period, a child who had lost one or both parents was cared for by one of the child's blood relatives (Wolff 2002). Since the beginning of the war for independence, the number of orphans and poor children increased dramatically.
Chapter Four
The Orphan Reunification and Rehabilitation Program
- Nature of the program
- Objectives of the orphan reunification and rehabilitation program
- The process of orphan reunification with their extended families
- Identification phase
- Placement phase
- Monitoring and evaluation phase
- Three initiatives of the orphan reunification program
- The process of rehabilitation of the caregiver families
An evaluation of the orphan reunification program conducted in 1998 showed that the psychosocial condition of the reunited orphans was generally good. Financial constraints, lack of qualified personnel, and insufficient coordination between organizations involved in orphan care are among other limitations of the program.
Chapter Five Research Methodology
- Data collection methods .1 Questionnaires
- Interviews
- Sampling: Research population
- Gaining entry
- Problems encountered
- The study area and population
A significant part of the questionnaire was designed with open-ended questions to enable respondents to respond freely. Interviews establish rapport with informants and enable the researcher to understand the informants' feelings, motives and thinking (O'Donnell, 1992: 47). Most of the informants were interviewed at their home in the afternoon when they had finished their household chores.
After explaining the aim and purpose of the study to the MLHW, Ward Zoba Ma'ekel14, the officials agreed to allow the researcher to conduct his data collection process in the selected locations. Before the research began, the local administrators of each study site were asked for help in locating the homes of the participants selected to take part in the study. The study was conducted in Zoba Ma'ekel, one of the six administrative regions of Eritrea.
The researcher's choice of the study sites was determined by financial constraints and a lack of time.
Findings and Discussion
Demographic and Socio-economic characteristics of caregivers
The well-being of a reunited orphaned child (all children, for that matter), as Hunter argues, is influenced by the age of the caregiver. A significant number (30.1%) of orphans are reunited with caregivers over the age of 55, suggesting that the well-being of reunited orphans in older caregiver families could be compromised. In terms of education level, 45% of caregivers have no formal education, and 37% are in sixth grade or less.
It is shown that the majority of caregivers are women, so most orphans (approximately 76%) are cared for by women with either a low level of formal education or none at all. Educated caregivers are more likely to increase the academic performance and complete higher quality homework of orphans. Although most of the caregivers in the present study have low formal education, the majority (77%) of the caregivers encourage their children. including orphans) to attend school.
Regarding the demographic details of orphans and non-orphans reunited within the sampled families, there is no significant difference in age and gender distribution.
Who is caring for the orphans?
This is an area for further research by comparing the families in the orphan reunification program with those outside the program. Because they have children of their own, it becomes difficult to house one or more orphans. In this case, paternal uncles are more likely to provide care to orphans than maternal uncles (9% and 4%, respectively).
This is because the studied communities are socially organized patriarchal which burdens male relative of the deceased individual to take care of the child. The number of orphans cared for by the extended families varied from one to four children. It is shown that 64% of caregivers care for one orphan, and the rest (36%) extended families care for two or more orphans.
Currently, the program assists all host families with income-generating assets, worth 10,000 Nakfa, regardless of the number of orphans each family cares for.
Orphans' physical well-being
Thus, contrary to the findings of Nampanya-Serpell in which the younger the orphan, the poorer their nutritional status, the findings of the present study discovered that most younger children in this sample eat relatively well. Clothing – the findings reveal 91% of the caregivers reported that they buy clothes and shoes for the orphans once or twice a year. The following table shows the expenses made for clothes/shoes for the orphans and non-orphans in the year 2002.
23 Refers to family members of the child other than the caregiver. This can be on both the father's and mother's side of the child. In short, the physical well-being of the reunited orphans and non-orphans illustrates that both groups are provided with food, clothing/shoes, and health care. The health status of the two comparison groups shows that the majority of orphans and non-orphans do not have chronic health problems or disabilities when disease is present.
Below, the social well-being of the reunited orphans will be discussed in comparison to the non-orphans.
Orphans' social well-being .1 Educational status of orphans
- Orphans' work
- Play
- Relationship of orphans with caregiver families
It is shown in the sample that school performance of orphans is low compared to non-orphans. This lower percentage of orphans can be explained orphans do more work at home and in the field which provides space for non-orphans to have more time to study. 26 'Achievement' in this study refers to those students who passed in all subjects in the academic year 2002.
Children in the study areas already participate fully in family activities at the age of ten, performing various tasks, including domestic and agricultural work. Orphans in the studied areas are engaged in work longer than non-orphans. During the harvest season, I rarely find time for my tasks and I go to school tired (Mussie, 12 years old).
During the in-depth interview with the orphans, it is established that there is discrimination in the amount of play time available to orphans.
Caregivers' perception of their role of caring for orphans
Although they (village committee member, emphasis added) are supposed to ask us (orphans), they have never consulted us when they come home, they talk to me. Although the majority of the caregivers are willing to care for the orphans, material poverty limits the capacity to care for orphans for a long time. If the cost of living is much cheaper as before, it will not be a problem to take care of the children for a long time (Alganesh, 71 years old).
Host families who live in difficult living conditions have a tension between the will to care and the ability to do so. Families cannot carry the burden because they often lack adequate income to care for additional children. Although there are still strong family ties and a sense of responsibility to care for orphaned children, the resources of families are increasingly stretched to the limit as they absorb the growing number of orphans as a result of war, poverty and AIDS .
In addition, some families take advantage of orphans to benefit from the assistance provided and support them in household chores and on the farm.
Provision of economic support and its effectiveness
Most families who choose livestock live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The following table shows the effectiveness of the support provided based on the perception of the carers. 2 1 100 The above table shows that 76% (n=76) of the foster families' standard of living improved as a result of the provision of the support.
I am able to meet the immediate needs of my family and provide my children (orphans and own children, emphasis added) with food, clothing and school supplies from the proceeds of the sale. Some families also stated that they are able to cover the expenses for the physical and educational needs of the reunified and their own children from the sale. I let my neighbor who owns oxen cultivate my land and I received only one-third of the produce.
The findings illustrate that the provision of support contributed to the standard of living of most of the caregiving families.
Chapter Seven
Conclusion and Recommendations
A significant number of reunited orphans also faced a lack of school materials, including school fees, notebooks, pens or uniforms. The Orphan Reunification and Rehabilitation Program, which began in 1992, promoted the social and physical well-being of reunited orphan children. Further research needs to be done on the impact of the MLHW orphan reunification program on the well-being of orphans in other Zoba (regions).
Emphasis should be placed on the extent to which the program changed the well-being of the reunited children before and after reunification with their extended families. They feel more support to meet the needs of the reunited orphans. A case study of the social impact of the Child Support Grant on the lives of women in Northdale.
MLHW (1997b) First report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Appendices
Demographic details of the orphans' caregivers who administered the face-to-face questionnaires
Orphan Non-orphan Orphan Non-orphan Orphan Non-orphan Orphan Non-orphan Orphan Non-orphan.
Questionnaire
Describe the characteristics of the orphan child by placing a tick (V) in the box provided. If he/she is helpful box 4, and if he/she is very helpful box 5).
Being preschool Financial problems Absence from school Negligence of parent Displacement of parent School far.
Questions for interview
This interview questions were conducted with government officials closely involved in the orphan reunification and rehabilitation program. This interview was aimed at obtaining data on the process and implementation of the orphan reunification program. What criteria did you use to assign orphaned children to foster families?
Is there a written agreement with the care families that helps you as a tool to examine the progress of the reunited children.
