Pathways to Resilience IV: Global South Perspectives

Qualitative Examinations of Highly Vulnerable Children

Abstract #106
Title: Stories of hope from the child-headed household: Reconceptualising hope within the context of vulnerability in South Africa
Presenter: Cheryl Ann Wright (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Introduction: This inquiry was aimed at clarifying conceptualisations of hope in research on the resilience of vulnerable young people in a high HIV/AIDS prevalence South African setting.  Participants were four adolescents from a child-headed household supported by a NGO.
Methods:  Interview data were collected using narrative practices to portray stories of their lived experiences of hope in the face of trauma.  Analysis applied grounded theory processes to identify main themes.  Four mechanisms characterised the nurturing of hope, namely: predatory, protective, promotion, and possibility processes.  Protective processes identified six themes: finding purpose; building a future sense; building faith; embracing educational opportunities; thinking positively; building strengths; and adopting supportive networks.  Four themes in the promotion processes were: experiencing support; building immunity; being motivated by others; and experiencing witnesses.  Three themes in the possibility processes were: illuminating pathways; visualising positives; and providing opportunities.
Findings: Findings support a transcendent understanding of hope which provide opportunities for growth rather than merely helping vulnerable young people to cope.  Implications suggest that conceptualisations of hope need to be grounded in social context and the imperatives of social justice to support vulnerable young people in realising their future aspirations.

Abstract #299
Title: The Promotion of Child Rights as a Resilience factor in Child Headed Households in Mutasa District in Zimbabwe
Presenter: Mary Kapesa (Africa University, Zimbabwe)
Co-Authors: Monika dos Santos, Levison Maunganidze
Introduction: This qualitative study explored the promotion of child rights as a resilience factor in Child Headed Households (CHH) in the Mutasa District, Zimbabwe.  
Methods: A purposive sampling of 28 children (age range 6 to 16) living in 10 CHH in the Mutasa District in Zimbabwe was undertaken. In-depth interviews using unstructured interview guides were used to collect data. Twenty five child service professionals and 3 purposively selected government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation also took part in the study, The data was thematically analysed.
Findings: The research findings indicate that there are no policies that specifically target CHH, despite the increase in the number of CHH in the country. CHH are subsumed under the broad category of orhpans and vulunerable children (OVC). This one size fits all approach fails to address the unique needs of the CHH. The children’s voices are not heard during the process of formulating policies that affect them, thus a child rights approach should be used to enhance resilience in the CHH. Provision of child rights is linked to resilience as it is crucial in the creation of coping enabling environments.  

Abstract #103
Title: Resilience spaces: exploring place making with street connected young people in Guatemala using participatory visual methods
Presenter: Andrew Stevenson (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK)
Co-Author: Jeremy Oldfield
Introduction: Our study explored resilience amongst Street Connected Young People (SCYP) in Guatemala City. We researched how community education projects facilitate the construction of Third Spaces of aspiration for at-risk young-people. Unlike previous research, we focused on resilience-building elements of risk-bearing environments, rather than the dangers inherent in street connected living
Methods: We used visual participatory methods with SCYP who attend volunteer run community education projects around ‘The Terminal’, a bus depot/wholesale market where young people live and work. We worked with ten young people, using participatory photography, participatory drawing, and image elicited interviewing to explore constructions of emplaced meaning in relation to versatile spaces of learning, and how well-being and resilience are formed. SCYP participated in go-along interviews, making photographic records and drawings of areas in the Terminal and the educational projects that are appropriated as living, learning and working spaces. Visual records were used as elicitation tools during interviews.
Findings: Our research yielded evidence of the malleability of places of resistance and reliance. Dwellings, market stalls, church premises and corridor areas are being adopted and appropriated as spaces of aspiration and opportunity to promote resilience in this at risk population