Using ubuntu to deal with psychosocial issues arising from institutionalised children

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency is among some of the major social problems in Zimbabwe. This was the focus for this study. This study was explorative and descriptive with the use of case study design. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with the caregivers, selected children and social workers. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed. The study found that some children at children’s homes are engaging in a number of delinquency activities such as sexual abuse, sexual intercourse, drug and alcohol abuse and assaults. This paper recommends that the government must educate children in institutional care on their rights but at the same time teaching them to be responsible. It further recommends that residential child care facilities (RCCFs) need to adopt ubuntu principles, that is, African culture values the importance of family relationships and communal responsibility. This means that vulnerable members of the family and community will be the responsibility of the family or whole community. To this end, the society in general needs to engage with institutionalized children thereby socializing them into values and principles of ubuntu to potentially moderate their behaviors.

Key Terms: delinquency, ubuntu, residential child care facilities (RCCFs), caregiving, social detachment, Zimbabwe