Pathways to Resilience IV: Global South Perspectives

Invited Symposium Summary
Psycho-educational Risk and Resilience Factors of Children At-Risk
Presenters: Jace Pillay, Nontsikelelo Rajuili-Masilo, Trishana Devi Soni, Charnee Beddy
This symposium presents the findings of mixed methods research conducted with children experiencing various forms of vulnerabilities, such as, children orphaned because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and young teenage mothers. The psycho-educational and social experiences of the children and youth are explored clearly indicating factors that put them at risk. More importantly, the resilience of some of them to survive against all odds are emphasised. Based on the findings recommendations are made on support interventions.

Invited Symposium Abstracts
The lived experiences of children from child-headed households: A closer look at resilience
Presenter: Jace Pillay (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Introduction: This paper presents a vivid description of the psycho-educational and social experiences of children from child-headed households.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in a primary school that has an exceptionally large amount of learners who live in child-headed households. Data were collected from learners that were in grades 4 to 7. Their psycho-educational and social experiences in such households were collected through individual interviews, focus groups and questionnaires and analysed for content.
Findings: The findings indicate that the learners experience several psycho-educational problems by virtue of them living in child-headed households. However, the resilience of some of them to survive against all odds is strongly emphasised.

Socio-cultural factors that enhance resilience amongst intermediate orphaned learners in Soweto primary schools
Presenter: Nontsikelelo Rajuili-Masilo (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Introduction: The rate of orphan-hood is on the rise both nationally and internationally. As a consequence some children experience illnesses; poverty and hunger, internalized ailments such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem which often has a negative impact on them. Hence, a focus on their resilience is needed.
Methods: This study used a mixed methods approach to select both orphaned and non-orphaned learners in the intermediate phase of schooling that is Grades 4 to 6, from 15 primary schools in Soweto. Both groups of children were exposed to psycho-social and resilience measurements to compare their experiences. A group of children who scored high, as well as a group that scored low, were individually interviewed to, respectively, determine risk and resilience factors that could be used in designing relevant support interventions.
Findings: The study is in progress and the results will be shared at the conference.

An exploration of resilience among trainee teachers
Presenter: Trishana Devi Soni (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Introduction: This study aims at increasing awareness of the internal resources of resilience within an adolescent who heads a child-headed household and identifies additional personality strengths that could strengthen the individual during life’s challenges, particularly if external support were not always available.
Methods: A quantitative research approach will be used to explore the lived experiences of trainee teachers at a Higher Education institution in Gauteng, South Africa. The Child and Youth Resilience Measure - 28 (CYRM-28) will be used.  The CYRM-28 is a 28-item questionnaire that explores the resources (individual, relational, communal and cultural) that may bolster the resilience of youth aged 9- to 23-years-old. The measure was designed as part of the International Resilience Project, which was conducted by the Resilience Research Centre in collaboration with 14 communities in 11 countries around the world. The researcher wrote to the Centre and requested permission to use the questionnaire which was sent to the researcher.  The resilience scores for each participant can tell you what individual, relational and contextual resources surround him or her. The information can be used to help inform decisions on what supports could be added to bolster resilience in each trainee teacher’s life as they train to become inclusive education practitioners.
Findings: The research is currently being conducted with 3 groups of undergraduate trainee teachers and the results will be presented at the Conference.

The resilience of an adolescent learner who heads a child-headed household.
Presenter: Charnee Beddy (Lantern School, South Africa)
Introduction: This study aims at increasing awareness of the internal resources of resilience within an adolescent who heads a child-headed household and identifies additional personality strengths that could strengthen the individual during life’s challenges, particularly if external support were not always available.
Methods: A case study of one adolescent (pseudonym “Thandi”), was conducted through the collection of data on her internal resources as depicted by McGrath and Noble through an individual interview, collage and a self-administered questionnaire by her teachers reflecting her resilience. Data was subjected to content analysis to determine the themes and sub-themes that emerged.
Findings: The findings revealed that Thandi appeared to exhibit all the internal resources of resilience as identified by McGrath and Noble (2003). However, several additional themes emerged, which are indicative of the importance of context and culture for building resilience in vulnerable learners.