The plight of orphans and other vulnerable children in the area of welfare and protection: A case of Kavero village, Mhondoro, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The thesis analyzes challenges orphans and other vulnerable children face in accessing welfare and protection. The main focus of the thesis is on the challenges these children face, the mechanisms in place for assisting these children as well as the relationship between state and non state actors and the traditional means of intervention. The findings show how orphans and other vulnerable children struggle to make a living and how the mechanisms of welfare and protection have failed or succeeded in alleviating challenges these children face. Findings from the study, show also how power and knowledge manipulation at the interface of ‘modern’ and traditional ideas can impact on children especially orphans and other vulnerable children in accessing welfare and protection. Above all the thesis through the use of qualitative methodologies mainly the use of key informants purposively sampled, unstructured interviews among other techniques has demonstrated that not all social actors have the same perceptions or interest, but that people in their social situations act and react according to their past experiences and value judgments. The study concluded that orphans and other vulnerable children face a lot of challenges and existing mechanisms of welfare and protection have done little to address them. The study points out that the challenges can be alleviated if enough resources are availed to strengthen the structures and institutions meant to provide welfare and protection to orphans and other vulnerable children.