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Raising Malawi’s Children: Unanticipated Outcomes Associated with Institutionalised Care
Author(s) -
Freidus Andrea
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2010.00313.x
Subject(s) - vulnerability (computing) , raising (metalworking) , identity (music) , residential care , family ties , public relations , economic growth , political science , criminology , nursing , sociology , medicine , psychology , engineering , computer security , economics , mechanical engineering , physics , computer science , acoustics , genealogy , history
Malawian orphans and vulnerable children are becoming increasingly numerous and visible in the media and materials produced by non‐governmental organisations. As a result, orphanages are proliferating to meet their needs. Drawing on data collected in three different orphanages, this paper reports some of the positive and negative outcomes of ‘institutionalising’ children in Malawi. Being designated an orphan is becoming a valued identity for some, and a source of vulnerability and exploitation for others. While institutions address material vulnerabilities, orphans and staff report that they can also lead to increased stigmatisation, struggles over belonging, and the disruption of community and family ties.