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Summary: This paper presents qualitative research undertaken to understand the core dynamics affecting orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), support structures and interventions for OVCs in two local municipalities (Kopanong in Free State and Kanana in North West Province) in South Africa.
Research showed that these municipalities were characterised by poverty, high rates of unemployment, limited resources, poor roads and infrastructure and problems of access to services, although most children had access to health services. A number of factors contributed to children feeling vulnerable. Both communities have large numbers of children who had been orphaned by HIV and AIDS as well as other causes. The number of fathers who were absent made this worse. Concern was raised that there are insufficient caretakers to look after the children who were in need of assistance. Virtually all the children were living with a caretaker, with a few child headed households. The prevalence of HIV and AIDS is seen to be rising, and there is concern related to the financial capacity of existing households to provide care. Poverty was not only a major factor leading to children not being cared for in the future, but the impact of poverty was forcing boys into crime and girls into survival sex as a means of coping. Other concerns centred around substance abuse and high levels of children abuse. Varying levels of community care were found in both communities, and whilst most caretakers who took in children were providing care and genuinely concerned about the children, concerns were raised about carers taking them in for the purposes to take advantage of their grants for their own uses. The report concludes that although support structures and systems for OVCs are available, they are overburdened, inaccessible or not well known. This is due to poverty, high numbers of OVCs, lack of resources at community, household and organisational levels, as well as lack of coordination between organisations, NGOs/CBOs and state departments. A number of recommendations are given for communities, state services and NGOs who provide support for OVC. These include: [Source: ELDIS]