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WHDL - 00011374

The joy and burden of caring for orphans and vulnerable children: a case study on the wellbeing of primary caregivers in Food for the Hungry, Ethiopia Child Development Program

Aweke Solomon Tadesse

Resource Types

Academic (Thesis, Dissertation, Etc.)

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

This dissertation is an understanding and investigation about the joy and burden of caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Food for the Hungry Ethiopia Zeway Child Development Program. The study explored the factors that affect the wellbeing of OVC primary caregivers, their caring and nurturing role towards the OVC. The study provided understanding on the theoretical framework of family-based care and an assessment of its significance for childcare. It also described the theories that directly contributed and related to the wellbeing of OVC primary caregivers, and projects the logical thoughts that direct how to improve and secure the wellbeing status of the family. The study examined a basic scientific framework for child character development and the role of primary caregivers. It gave a brief description of the scientific character and identity formation of children and the place of the caregiver or parental role in the process. The descriptions included specifics on the connection between the mental development (thinking facilities), character, identity, and social development. The content also gave description on holistic learning theories and principles for effective childcare implementation and argued that the interactive skill-based learning approach has the potential to sharpen the child's mind and thought processes in dealing with practical life experiences. The study analyzed and presented the place of supportive community or the need of care and support for OVC primary caregivers as a key and back up those caregivers who are in extreme poverty and living with considerable wellbeing defects. Following this thought the study argued that there has been a considerable emphasis on the immediate losses and material needs of the OVC and yet the wellbeing, caring and parental role and burden of their immediate interventionist or primary caregivers are often significantly overlooked. The effectiveness and sustainable nature of child development programs are directly related to the quality of support provided to primary caregivers, which in turn are passed on to growth in the wellbeing of the OVC. The study found out that there is a direct relation between the quality of care and support provided to primary caregivers and maintaining healthy and quality care and support to the vulnerable child. As part of the child holistic care and nurture strategy, the study provided biblical and theological precepts for caregivers, parents, and the faith community. This included instances and views from early church tradition as well. The research used a case study method in which the data were collected using a mixed-method approach. The quantitatively structured questionnaires measured the wellbeing of primary caregivers and ascertaining issues that need to be given more attention. As a dependent variable, the condition of wellbeing depends on the status of different domains. The method is used as probing tool to move sequentially from the general investigation to the in-depth and specific study, which was set up through the qualitative tools. Through the qualitative means, multiple data collection methods such as focus group interviews, individual interviews, and informal individual interviews were earned out. These tools helped in investigating and discovering the underlying causes and effects of the caregivers' burden and sense of joy, in relation to their caring and nurturing role towards the orphan and vulnerable child. The research also looked into some other important themes, which affected the wellbeing condition of caregivers, such as relationships with supportive communities and worries for the future. These understanding and exploration or the study led to the identification of recommendations for the improvement of the care and support approach which in turn would benefit the process of the OVC holistic care and support provided to the direct beneficiaries. The study hoped to enable Food for the Hungry (FH) Ethiopia to identify the factors that directly affect the wellbeing of primary caregiver and indirectly the OVC through the exploration of the wellbeing domain score and analyzing the burden and sense of joy that the OVC primary caregivers experience as they act out their role. Furthermore, the study recommended that the organization and the professionals need to develop a methodology and tools that can enable to make valid and sustainable intervention which improves the wellbeing of the caregiver and enhance the holistic growth of the OVC as well as the effectiveness of the program and performance of the professional engaged as a strategy developer and walk with the caregiver as social worker.

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Publish Year: 2018

Subject Index

Copyright Notes

KeywordsCaregiver, Child care, Orphans, Holistic Learning Theory, Family based care, Holistic Child development

Degree AwardedPhD in Holistic Child Development

Awarding InstitutionAsia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

Committee MembersCatherine Stonehouse, Clair Budd, Nativity Petallar, Azriel Azarcon, Floyd T. Cunningham, Bruce Oldham

Supervisor or ChairEmmanuel Luna

Peer Reviewed?No

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Dissertations

11 Resources

Education
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Religion - Christianity

English

This collection contains the dissertations completed in partial fulfillment of the Degree PhD in Holistic Child Development, and PhD in Transformational Learning at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in partnership with Asia Graduate School of Theology.

Dissertations in Holistic Child Development

13 Resources

Religion - Christianity
Social and Behavioral Sciences

English

This collection contains the dissertations of our graduates that fulfilled the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The program is designed for those preparing to be equipped in leadership, teachers of children, practitioners, and pastors, so that they will have the gifts, skills, and capacity to care holistically for children inside and outside the church.