Children’s Homes: A Refuge for Vulnerable Children in Society: A Case Study of a Children’s Home in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the extent to which children’s homes serve as substitute homes for vulnerable children in society. The study was conducted at a children’s home in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. The population comprised administrators, caregivers and the children. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and observations. The study established that children become vulnerable due to abandonment, neglect and juvenile delinquency. It was established that at the home, children are categorized into two groups. Those classified as being ‘at a place of safety’ are children who were kept there temporarily while the whereabouts of their relatives are being established, while the ‘committed’ are those who have no traceable backgrounds and would be kept until they attain the age of majority. The study also established that the home was run as a family, where there are mother figures in each family unit. The major challenge faced by the home is that of shortage of funding. Children need money for school fees and workers need monthly salaries. Generally, the study established that the children’s home plays a crucial role in providing a nurturing environment for vulnerable children. The home provides the children with basic needs and equips them with essential survival skills needed in society. The study recommends total community participation and Government involvement at the home by providing emotional, financial, social, spiritual and material support.