Children's Coping with Natural Disasters: Lessons from Floods and Droughts in Muzarabani District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of this field report is to describe children's lived experiences of coping with increasing exposure to natural hazards in Zimbabwe. Using a phenomenological approach, our team interviewed 40 children, 8–18 years old. The capacity of children to cope with increasing natural hazards in their environment was based on their ability to adjust their normal lives. Children relied on extraordinary activities to respond to the disaster impacts. These included: accepting government intervention, providing labor, skipping and dropping out of school, collecting and selling food, firewood, and assets, and early marriages. Most of the identified coping mechanisms, however, subsequently increased children's vulnerabilities. Helping children to cope with disasters is also discussed.