Indigenous approaches to integrate unaccompanied minors: an evaluation of psychosocial services at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi

Abstract

Malawi has many refugees that have fled their home countries due to different reasons. The majority of these refugees are based at Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa district. A challenge associated with the problem of refugees is unaccompanied minors. These children are traumatised because of situation that separated them with their parents or guardians. This study aimed at investigating how these children are assisted through psychosocial counselling especially through the kinship system. Qualitative approach was used to collect and analyse data and results have shown that there are several techniques mostly from central and eastern Africa that are used. Through these indigenous approaches the children are integrated into the refugee community effectively.

Keywords: Dzaleka, unaccompanied minors, psychosocial support, kinship, Malawi