THE ROLE OF NGOS IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF CHILD HEADED FAMILIES.

A CASE OF ARAPAI SUB COUNTRY IN SOROTI DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

This is a report on the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Soroti district. Specific objectives of the study were; to find the factors that lead to child headed families, to identify problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families and to establish the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district.

The research data and findings were obtained using mainly primary data sources but secondary data sources were also used to collected information especially for the literature review. The primary data collection methods that were used include informal interviews, structured interviews and focus group discussions questions where by one was for the male and another for female.Secondary data sources included textbooks, news letters, news supplements reports and internet sources among others.

It was established that children in child headed families experience a lot of problems for example emotional, physical, social and financial problems. Organizations working within the area have intervened by providing different services in order to improve the welfare of these children. They have provided food, shelter, medical are, clothing, school fees, vocational skills, scholastic materials and child protection. However little counseling has been done.

Basing on the findings, the researcher recommended that the government and organizations should avail more counseling services to the children so as to solve their emotional problems. Government also needs to be do more funding in order to enable the NGO to cover a wide scope.Key concepts that were used included NGOs, welfare and child headed families. These were explained depending on how the researcher used them.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.0 Introduction

The study established the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Soroti district. Every section of this report sought to find the factors that lead to child headed families, identify problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families and establish the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district. This chapter presents background to the study, Statement of the problem, purpose of the study, objectives of the study, Research Questions, scope of the Study and Significance of the Study.

1.1 Background to the study

The concept of child headed household is not a new phenomenon in Africa today. Millions of children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and wars that many have been forced to become heads of households at a very tender age.

Luzze and David (2004), a child headed family refers to a family primarily headed by a child below the age of 18. It has to be recognized by the local community as being independent and where the child head was seen to be; responsible for making major decisions, a bread winner of the family and earning for the younger siblings through adoption of parental roles. As poverty, armed conflicts and AIDS become more common, the number of orphans continues to grow, it is for example Foster et al, (1995) estimated that more than 18% of the children in Namibia were to be orphans by the year 2010.

Ruiz- Casarez, (2005) notes that the numbers are even greater in countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Somalia. She further asserts that few orphans are being absorbed into their extended families which are under increasing stress. As a result the number of child headed families in many countries continues to increase. She goes ahead to state that the number of relatives available to any given individual is decreasing rapidly. In many places, AIDS and armed conflicts are also over burdening the social systems, hindering health and education development any further, thus undermining social support systems.

There were fewer than one million children orphaned by AIDS in Sub- Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 1990). Today there are more than twelve million. By the end of 2010, UNICEF officials suspected that there more than eighteen million orphaned due to AIDS (WHO, 2008).The conditions in Sudan, Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia and Somalia are similar due to constant wars and HIV/AIDS (UNAID 2004).

In Rwanda, the condition is not different from elsewhere. There were over sixty thousand (60,000) in 1996 households run by children and this is due to the 1994 genocide a tribal war between the Hutus and Tustsi. Many children lost their parents and had to stay on their own. Generally three quarters of all child headed households are led by girls of whom the eldest child could be eleven years old (BBC World Service News 1996, Plan international/ 2005).

A study by Foster et al (1997) reveals that the phenomenon described as “CHHs” (Child Headed Households) in Uganda was first noted in the late 1980s in Rakai district. Up to until this point, it was assumed that there is no such a thing as an orphan in Africa as children without parents would easily be naturally looked after within the households of their extended families which traditionally acted as the continents’ social security system (Plan International, 2005).

In Uganda where at least 800,000 have died of AIDS and about 1, 400,000 presently living with the disease, the number is expected to rise (UAC, 2001). By the year 2000, it was estimated that 2.35 million children were orphans in Uganda (Hunter and Williamson, 2002).According to UNICEF (2004), the number is expected to rise to 3.5 million by the year 2030. This overwhelming increase in the number   of orphans at rates never witnessed before increases the vulnerability of children as the care and protection burden for households, the extended families and communities increase beyond their abilities to cope.

According to the National Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Policy, 14% of the child population had been orphaned by AIDS by the year 2003 (Ministry of Gender 2003). The first case in Uganda was noted in the late 1980s in Rakai district (WHO, 1990; Alden Salole and Williamson 1991). The occurrence of this epidemic left many parents claimed, leaving children to live on their own with an adult in the household being 17 years old (UNICEF 1994, Nalugoba et al 1997).

The growing number of orphans and the high number of orphans and the high number of adult deaths have caused a shock to traditional child protection mechanism in many areas. Moreover, social capital is weakening as family and community systems disintegrate. Traditional absorption mechanisms for children have also strained. This leads to a situation where child social inequalities exist within countries, communities and within families. As a result it becomes harder to reach a larger number of critically vulnerable children with regular education, health and social protection programs (Keilland, 2003).

Some researchers have come to state that the extended family system is failing to cope and is collapsing. Evidence shows that most child headed households receive support from their extended families but this support is not enough. Support from the extended families of the children in child headed families not being enough, this calls for the contribution of NGOs as major institutions of advocacy for child welfare initiatives to which children are entitled as a right and in order to overcome the negative impacts of HIV/AIDS on children (Luzze, 2002)

In line with achieving the United Nations General Assembly special sessions (UNGASS) goals, there has been an increased interest and commitment on the part of all stakeholders especially NGOs to scale up responses aimed at mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on children. In 2001, a situation analysis of orphans was conducted in Uganda and in the subsequent years, the drafting of the National Orphans and other vulnerable children policy has been underway by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MOGLSD). This policy aims at providing long term guidance and a framework for the development and implementation of OVC interventions through an all inclusive, well coordinated, multi sectoral approach that will improve the quality of life of children in child headed families and consequently all children in Uganda.

The study was undertaken in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district because they contain many of the child headed families who have various problems and limited access to basic social services which has called or calls for the contribution or role of NGOs in providing welfare services as a way of promoting the welfare of those children. With the poor conditions surrounding the child headed families, there has been a response from or by some agencies like UNICEF, World vision, Plan International, ANPPCAN, OCBO, RAIN, RHSP and Save the Children Fund (UK). All these have devised special intervention programs to enable children cope with orphan life or orphan hood through providing welfare services especially in Soroti district.It is upon this background that this research therefore will aim at establishing the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The appearance of child headed families in communities affected by AIDS is a recent phenomenon with cases noted in the late 1980s in the Soroti district of Uganda. (WHO, 1990, Alden, Salole and Williamson 1991) and Kagera region of Tanzania (Mukoyogo and William 1991). In 1991, such households were observed for the first time in six villages in the Masaka district of Uganda where previously no such households had been noted (Naerland, 1993).

The emergence of families headed by children sometimes as young as 10-12 years old is one of the most distressing consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many children thus lack access to basic needs and social services. This makes them experience problems such as emotional, social, psychological and economic problems. This requires for the intervention of different NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families. It is therefore imperative to find out the role of NGOs play in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Soroti.

1.3 General objective

To establish the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district.

1.4 Specific Objectives

1. i) To find the factors that lead to child headed families inArapai Sub County,Soroti district.
2. ii) To identify problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district.

• iii) To establish the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families inArapai Sub County,Soroti district.

1.5 Research Questions

1. i) What are the factors that lead to child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district?
2. ii) What are the problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district?

• iii) In what ways have NGOs contributed to the promotion of the welfare of child headed families Arapai Sub County, Soroti district?

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study was undertaken in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district which is located in Eastern Uganda. This sub county is chosen because they contain many of the child headed families who have various problems and limited access to basic social services which has called for the contribution of NGOs in providing welfare services as a way of promoting the welfare of those children. The study will involveboth male and female child heads, NGO staff and

community members. The study will focus on the factors that lead to child headed families, problems faced by children in child headed families and the contribution of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families. The study will take four months from April to July, 2017.

1.7 Significance of the Study

Successful completion of the study could be useful to a number of people;

It is hoped that results could assist or help the support agencies to know the gap that has been left out as they provide support to children living alone in child headed families.

The findings of the study will help people in policy formulation and government to understand the problems faced by children in child headed families for better strategies.

This study will also build on the body of literature of this particular topic and may be a catalyst for future research.

The study also fulfills part of the requirements for the award of a degree in Kyambogo University to the researcher.

1.8 Limitations and delimitations

Some of the respondents will not be willing to share with the researcher some of the information that they consider as confidential to them. This was solved by assuring the respondents of confidentiality by using it for academic purposes only and promising them anonymity by not indicating their names.

Differences in the researcher and respondents time table also will arouse a problem. Some of the respondents was at school and in their gardens. This was solved by making adjustments in the time table in order to make it convenient for both.

Language barrier was experienced due to the many ethnic groups in Soroti including Kumam, Langi, Acholi among others. Here, some respondents will express themselves well and some will not understand the questions properly. Therefore the researcher will interpret the questions to the respondents to solve this.

1.9 Summary

This chapter presents the general introduction on NGOs and poverty reducion, statement of the problem, objectives of the study and research questions, scope of the Study, Significance of the Studyand limitations and delimitations.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter presents a review of literature related to the subject under study by various researchers and scholars. This was in relation to the objectives of the study.

2.1 Factors that lead to child headed families

According to UNAIDS (2004), a child is defined as a person below the age of 18 years. Although some traditional societies in Uganda define a child as a person below the age of 21 years, the constitution of Uganda defines a child as a person below the age of 18 years (Constitution of Uganda, 1995).

According to the population census of 2002, 1.8 million children had lost one of their parents and were therefore orphans. About 3% of the children had lost both parents in 2002, representing a doubling of orphaned hood in this category from 1.5% that was observed in 1991(UBOS). However, the number of children living on their own increased from 4.4% in 1985-1989 to a staggering 60% between 1995- 2005.

The children who choose not to move or who may not have another relative to go to may be forced to live on their own hence constituting child headed families (Sengendo and Nambi, 1997).

Rapid increase in the number of parental deaths

Child headed households result from the rapid increase in numbers of parental deaths leading to overburdening of the capacity of relatives to fulfill their traditional role of caring for orphans. Most children living in child headed households have had both parents dead (Geoff Foster, Etta Kralovec, 1997).

HIV/AIDS epidemic

The number of children being orphaned is rapidly increasing in communities with high rates of HIV infections; by mid- 1996, it was estimated that nine million children had lost their mothers to AIDS, with over  90% of children living in Sub- Saharan African countries  (UNAIDS, 1996). The epidemic is leading to a decreasing proportion of adults in the population and reduced income affecting households (Gregson et al 1994; Leighton 1996:76). As a result of the impact of AIDS on communities, changes  are taking place in care giving  arrangements for affected children (Foster et  al 1995); an increasing proportion of orphans are now in the care of elderly and the very young (Foster et al 1996, Saoke, Mutemi and Blair 1996:55).

The appearance of child- headed households in communities affected by AIDS is a recent phenomenon with cases noted in the late 1980s in the Rakai district of Uganda (WHO 1990; Alden, Salole and Williamson 1991) and for the first time in six villages in Masaka district of Uganda where previously no such households had been noted.

Uganda was estimated to have 3.8 and 2.4 percent respectively of children under 15 years maternally orphaned by AIDS in 1995, increasing to 5.5% and 3.5% by the year 2001 and 24 to 40% by 2011. This thus means that AIDS is the main cause of child headed families (Gregson et al 1996).

In 2001, a survey by Plan International Uganda estimated that around 18,000 children had been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Plan’s program areas. An AIDS related illness was the cause of death for 65% of the fathers and 73% of the mothers. One quarter of the orphans had lost both parents and 3% of care takers were less than 19 years old. This is the category in which child- headed families or households fall with each care taker looking   after a number of children (Plan’s submission to general Day of discussion on “children without parental care”:1).

Reluctance of relatives to foster orphans

In some cases, relatives may consider themselves free of responsibilities towards orphans, even though they are closely related to the children. Relative may no recognize the legitimacy of orphaned children, if for example, a sister had children but was never married or if bride price was never paid to her brothers; in such circumstances, they may feel satisfied in not providing support to her orphaned children after her death. A Kenyan study found that whereas families living below the poverty line tended to foster children, wealthier relatives, whom one might expect to be more able to foster relatives’ children, maintained minimal links with orphans (Saoke et al 1996:51). Some relatives may be concerned about fostering orphans when they suspect that the parent died from AIDS. They may fear contracting HIV infection from the children, or are afraid that bringing such children to their home may lead to stigmatization. (Makufa Cs, Roger D.,Supplement 2 to Health Transition Review Volume7, 1997: 155-168).

 Fear of being mistreated and exploited in foster families             

According to the presentation by ANPPCAN Uganda chapter Kampala of 27-29 March 2007, another cause of child headed households is that children may establish their own child headed household out of fear of being mistreated or exploited in foster families. A study in Tanzania showed that 50% of the foster parents accepted non related orphans because they wanted to employ them as domestic workers ( Shemelis, 2007).

The need to keep the family’s property

They may also want to keep the family’s property and land (Shimelis, Tsegaye 2007). Children sometimes view the apparent zeal of some relative to “adopt” them with mistrust and suspicion especially when these potential care givers are known or perceived to be grapping the little property left of deceased parents. They have reasons for being suspicious as studies from Zimbabwe and Uganda demonstrate.

2.2 Problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families

Sloth Nielsen (2004) recognizes that children become heads of the households when their parents become too sick to do what is necessary to maintain a household. It should also be noted that in many circumstances children begin to take part in parental roles from the very moment their parents are weakened by HIV/AIDS disease. These children miss parental guidance and support which increase their risk to bad behaviours like criminal activity, substance abuse, violence and prostitution (Ministry of Finance publication, 1999).

Hunter (2000:208) observes that children take on new roles, act as household heads, make household decisions after the death of their parents and others even when some of the parents are still living and supporting their young brothers and sisters at times suffering loss and causing serious danger to them. The children go ahead to help other vulnerable children by providing them with food, shelter and counseling which is at times not easy.

Despite living under very pathetic and harsh conditions, children in child headed families have been known to develop unique resilience when their lives are challenged. They develop a continum of coping strategies which also include adopting ‘de facto/ adult roles (LWF, 2000). This does not diminish the reality of these children being in a multiplicity of very difficult circumstances or conditions, with no immediate adult to protect them, feed them, guide them, love them and laugh with them- leaving them at risk of hunger and neglect of being physically and sexually abused and worse (Plan international submission to General Day of Discussion on “Children without parental care” page 1).

Natukunda (1993) points out that by early 1990s there were a few orphans living alone in child headed families while LWF (2000) notes that the number of child headed families has been growing overtime. Their difficulties and sad situations is characterized by lower school attendance, increased vulnerability to physical and mental problems, early entrance into labour market, and vulnerability to social  vices like drug abuse, criminal behaviour, risky sexual behaviour, poor access to social services among others.

The growing number of orphans and the high number of adult deaths have caused a shock to traditional child protection mechanisms in many areas. Moreover social capital is weakening as family and community systems disintegrate. Traditional absorption mechanisms for children have become strained. This leads to a situation where child social inequalities exist within communities and within families. As arsesult it becomes harder for children living alone in child headed families to get regular education, health and social protection programs (Keilland, 2003).

In order to escape the dangers of being adopted by relatives in households where resources are already overstretched or being institutionalized; many orphans leave for urban centers either to become street children or to provide cheap labour (Luzze 2002). Others especially girls are lured into early marriages while some are exposed to sexual exploitation as child prostitutes.

Orphans and other vulnerable children experience stress arising from poverty, exclusion and stigmatization. Young children have specific needs that include; love, affection, stable care, active feeding, protection from injury and many others (Ritcher, Foster and Sherr, 2006).

The problem faced by children in child headed households is that they often lack adult support and supervision. Additionally, people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda have little or no access to adequate psychosocial support (Luzze, 2004). Children living in a child headed household can cope better than we think they can, particularly with the right amount of adult support (Plan’s submission to General Day of discussion on “Children without parental care” page 6).

Like any other people children are grieved by the death of their parents, although unlike adults, children do not often feel the full impact mostly because they do not understand the final meaning of death immediately. This prevents them from undergoing the grieving process which is necessary to recover from the loss (Brodzinsky, Gormly and Ambron, 1986). This expresses them at risk of growing up with unresolved negative emotions often expressed with anger and depression.

Unfortunately, community does not seem to appreciate that children are also adversely affected by bereavement although they many not have an adult’s understanding of death. They are not given the required support and encouragement to express their emotions nor are they guided on how to deal with them (Brodzinsky, 1986). Children are for example not talked to, listened to and therefore their emotions are not  understood especially when they have no interest in doing work or are inattentive in class they are simply punished.

2.3 Role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families

Most African cultures are characterized by strong family kinship networks which function as social support systems in times of need. Children who lose their parents are typically taken in by a relative like an aunt, uncle, or even grand parents, as it has been the pattern in East Africa. As the prevalence of HIV/AIDS increases and the twin pressures of poverty and diseases, the safety nets breakdown (Gilborn et al 2001).

In Uganda, most support groups comprising of the “safety nets” are presumed to be living with HIV/AIDS and are in poor health and yet with the limited resources, the capacity of the elderly population to look after orphans to be, as they grow beyond their most economically productive years (Gilborn et al 2001). This thus calls for the intervention of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed households.

With the support government and donor funding, NGOs have worked as the major institutions of advocacy for child welfare initiatives to which children are entitled as a right( Naerland1993,Luzze 2002).

NGOs providing support services in Uganda more especially in Rakai include; Rakai AIDS information network, ANPPCAN, Rakai Health Sciences Programme, Orphans Community Based Organization, and World Vision among others (Naerland, 1993).

Interventions by NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families include support activities such as medical care, supplementary feeding, home repairs and constructions, payment of school fees and provision of scholastic materials, vocational training, loans, grants, credit schemes and psychosocial support (Luzze, 2005).

Medical treatment

Anti Retroviral Treatment is provided to children in child headed families who are reported to be suffering from HIV/AIDS. In addition, free treatment for sexually transmitted diseases is provided by NGOs to children in case need arises with an aim of improving their health (Plan International, 2007).

Supplementary feeding

Children in child headed families are too young to get enough food for themselves. The Non governmental Organizations  thus come up with an intervention of supplementary feeding through which they provide beans, maize, maize flour to improve the diet and nutrition of the children (Luzze, 2005)

School fees payment

Various NGOs engage themselves in paying school fees for vulnerable children in child headed families. This is supplemented with the provision of scholastic materials such as books, pens, pencils, soap, towels and mathematical sets to facilitate orphans in schools mainly those in child headed families and improve the academic environment of children in school. This therefore results in substantial increase in primary school enrollment particularly for orphans, poor and the girl child (Andre 2005, UNICEF, 2004).

Vocational skills training

Vocational skills training such as tailoring, motor vehicle repairing, hair dressing skills, farming, plumbing, computer skills are provided to children (orphans) and the vulnerable in relation to their community as a means of fighting poverty(Luzze 2002,David 2005).

Home construction and repairs

Homes are constructed for the homeless especially HIV/AIDS orphans in order to provide shelter as away of improving the welfare of children in child headed families. This is done because some children are total orphans and may not have anyone to construct and repair their houses as the child heads may be too young and financially incapacitated. So, NGOs construct and repair homes in order to protect children’s right to shelter (Wakhweya et al, 2002).

Credit schemes such as loan and grants

After the children in child headed households have been trained vocational skills, they are given loans and grants in form of money to start up their own jobs and workshops such as saloons, garages, restaurants from which they carry out work and earn a living in order to overcome the poverty problem (Fredrick, 2002).

Psycho socio support

Children are provided with psycho- socio support in form of counseling. Several NGOs within the Rakai district help children overcome emotional problems such as stress, depression and failure to adapt to social change. Peer educators are also trained by NGOs to help counsel children in the far communities so as to help children overcome emotional problems (Luzze, 2002).

The role of NGOs is important in promoting the welfare of children in child headed families. It has been observed that in the absence of the extended family and in the absence of the strengthened government social services for children in crisis such as orphans, NGOs have filled these gaps (Andre, 2005).

The role of NGOs in responding to the needs of children in child headed families cannot be undermined because it has been complemented by community support programmes (Foster et al, 2005). Women in the neighborhood form informal mutual self help groups such as “MunnoMukabi” these offer their time and make home visits to the children in child headed

household. In addition, these women have persuaded local councils to solicit out wide help for orphans and some have assumed the responsibility to care for those children in their homes (Fredrick, 2002).However there is some gap that has been left due to limited funds which has made people look at NGOs as not being effective in promoting the welfare of child headed families.

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter handles methods that were used in compiling data. It covered the research design, area of the study, population of the study, sampling strategies and sample size, data collection methods, data quality control, data analysis, ethical consideration and anticipated problems or limitations.

3.1 The research design

The study adopted a descriptive survey design and both qualitative and quantitative methodologies of data collection and analysis. Descriptive survey design helped in gathering information about a large number of people by interviewing only a few of them. This served many functions such as exploration, description and explanation. The study also relied on both qualitative and quantitative data which provideddetailed, effective and accurate information that will explain and explore the problem under study. Qualitative methodology was used for organizing, summarizing and presenting the interpreted data. Quantitative method was used to establish the degree of the problem in terms of response from the respondents.

3.2 Area of study

The study was undertaken in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district which is located in Eastern Uganda particularly in three sub counties. These sub counties were chosen because they contain many of the child headed families who have various problems and limited access to basic social services which has called or calls for the contribution or role of NGOs in providing welfare services as a way of promoting the welfare of those children

3.3 Population of the study

The studycovered different NGO staff, child heads of families (orphans) and community members in Arapai. Theseinvolved both male and female because they are both victims of child headed families. It also covered different NGO staff because these are responsible for and give a hand in promoting the welfare of children.

3.4 Sampling techniques and sample size

3.4.1 Sampling techniques

The sampling techniques that were used in the study included purposive sampling procedure and simple random sampling. Purposive sampling method was chosen because it allowed the researcher to choose certain respondents for supplying key information. NGO staffs were chosen purposively. Simple random sampling was good because the sample size contained respondents who require being appropriately and proportionately represented. This method was used to select family heads and community members.

3.4.2 Sample size

The researcherused a sample size of 40 respondents. Thesecomprised of both male and female respondents for all the categories. The 10 respondents was children in the child headed families between the age of 10 to 17 years because these form child headed families, 10 child heads  because these provide adult roles to the other children in the family, 8 NGO staff from different organizations because these are responsible for and give a hand in promoting the welfare of children and 12 community members, these are also responsible in promoting the welfare and so can provide gender perceptions, opinions and feelings about a common situation in the community.

3.5 Data collection methods

For thorough realization of the objectives of the study, survey  methods of data collection was used such as structured interview, informal interview and focus group discussion, questions and these include;

3.5.1 Structured interview

Thisinvolved a well worked out document putting out questions in a particular way in which the responses was recorded known as a structured interview. This structured interviewwas given out to allow time for respondents to provide answers and collected later. It involved open and close ended questions. Close ended questions gave a number of options to choose from. Open ended questionsgave a chance to those who can read and write to express themselves. The self administered structured interviews were applied to the NGO staff as key informants from different organizations.

Informal interview

The researcher alsoused the interview guide but this was mainly oral interview. This was applied mainly to the illiterate child heads and children in child headed families. The researcherformulated questions to ask the respondents and answers was recorded by the researcher. It was good because questions that are ambiguous were clarified and asked respondents to expand on their answers and thisenabled the researcher to read body expression of respondents.

Focus group discussion

Thisinvolved formulating a homogenous group of individuals deliberately selected for the purpose of discussing the research topic in detail depending on the objectives of the study.  Two Focus Group Discussions was used, one for male and another for female. This was used to gather information about the opinions, feelings of people who are involved in a common situation. The question guide was applied to community members such as local authorities. It was good because ithelped break the culture of silence as all gender groups was able to express themselves and involve free exchange of information from all gender groups.

3.6 Data quality control

In order to ensure quality, the researchused a self administered structured interview, interview guide and focus group discussion guide to collect qualitative and quantitative data.

The researcher ensured that respondents fully participate in this research by using simple random sampling in order to appropriately and proportionately represent a bigger population by using a sample. The researcher also pre-tested the research instruments such as structures interview before actually taking the structured interview to the field. This was to ensure that data collected by the structured interview is of great quality.

3.7 Data analysis

Data analysis was both qualitative and qualitative. Quantitative data analysis was only applied to the data collected using self administered structured interviews, while  using  this method, the data was assembled, edited, calculated, frequencies tallied and presented in percentage form. The data was later tabulated for easy interpretation.

Qualitative data analysis was mainly for oral interview and focus group discussion guide, itinvolved explaining points given by respondents; it also involved quoting what people said in their voices and ranking the responses according to superiority. Both methods involved editing, coding and presentation. Therefore, editing means a process of checking errors on the instrument in order to ensure accuracy, uniformity and completeness. Coding is the process of classifying answers to questions into meaningful categories so as to bring out their meaning.  In data presentation, the researcher presented the collected data from the field in tabular form and graphs so as to obtain the required accuracy, consistency, perfection and convincing form. Conclusions were then made for future recommendations.

3.8 Ethical consideration

The researcher sought consent of respondents interviewed by introducing herself to the local authority such as to LCI an introductory letter from the KyambogoUniversity was presented. The local authorities gave the researcher permission to carry out her research in the Sub County. She explained the purpose of the study to the respondents so that they feel free to respond to the questions asked. This helped her create rapport with the respondents. The researcher also guaranteed anonymity of the respondents by ensuring that information does not bear their names and that the information is kept with confidentiality that is by not sharing it with anyone else. The responses was only used for research purposes only to avoid interfering with their private life.

3.9 Summary

Although the researcherfaced some problems as explained above, she found solutions to the problems and so was able to obtain the required research findings in relation to the objectives of the research study. The above chapter highlights in detail the process of this research. In this study, a qualitative research method was used and general information about the study area as well as reasons for this choice is discussed. The analysis was done by combining both theoretical and analytical approaches.

CHAPTER FOUR

EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter presents findings got from the field in relation to the topic of study; “The role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families.” The specific objectives were; to find the factors that lead to child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district, to identify problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district and to establish the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families in Arapai Sub County, Soroti district. The researcher used a descriptive survey approach to present the findings. It also entails findings on different sections such as profile of respondents, perceptions and definitions of child headed families, factors that lead to child headed families, problems faced by children living alone in child headed families and on the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families.

4.1 Data Presentation

4.1.1 Profile of the respondents

This provides data on the profile of the respondents’ such as age, gender, academic qualifications and their marital status as below;

Table 1: Showing the age of the respondents

Source: Primary data

The table above shows that under the demographic characteristic of age, majority of the respondents fall in the age bracket of above 18 years that has 20 respondents representing 50%. Those between the ages of 16-18 were 10 thus representing 25%. It should however be noted that those above 18 years are not children in child headed families but rather  respondents from the community and staff from the different NGOs who were sources of information.

Figure 1: Showing gender of respondents

The figure above shows that 21 respondents representing 52.5% were male and 19 respondents representing 47.5% was female. Therefore this research shows that the study had mostly male respondents as sources of information.

Figure 2: Showing academic qualification of respondents

The figure shows that 13 respondents represented by 32.5% had attained primary education, 12 respondents who were represented by 30% attained university, 10 respondents attained secondary education and 5 respondents reached tertiary level. It should however be noted that most of the respondents who were able to reach tertiary and university level are not children in child headed families but are members from the NGOs ( staff) and community members such as church leaders, local council I members in parishes  where samples were taken.

Objective I:Findings on the factors that lead to child headed families

During the interaction with the respondents, they stated that there are various factors that lead to child headed families as shown in the table below;

Figure3: Showing people’s responses about the factors that lead to child headed families (CHFs)

Source: Researcher’s primary data from the survey

From figure above, 38% of the respondents cited HIV/AIDS, 23% of them cited domestic violence, 17% of the respondents cited divorce, 11% said negligence and neglect by parents and another 11% of the respondents indicated mistreatment from parents and relatives.

Objective II: Findings on challenges faced by children growing up alone in child headed families (CHFs)

The respondents had different remarks in response to problems faced by children living alone in child headed families as explained;

Figure 4: Showing responses about problems faced by children living alone in child headed families.

Source: Researcher’s field work survey

From the figure, most respondents(27%) cited lack of basic needs, 13% cited poverty, 14% revealed have no access to education, another 14% of them said discrimination, 12%depression, 9% revealed inadequate security, 8% of the respondents cited child labour and 3% of them revealed psychological distress.

Table 2: Shows how children in child headed families overcome some of the problems they face

Source; Primary data

The table above shows responses how children in child headed families overcome some of the problems. 35% of them said get support from NGOs, 26% cited get support from churches farming, 18% said farming, 12% said offer labour( hiringlabour), 5% indicated petty business and only 4% indicated others.

Objective III: The role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families.

In response to the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families, different responses were obtained from respondents during the interviews both structured and informal interviews and focus group discussions as indicated in thetable below;

Table 3: Showing the services children in child headed families receive from different NGOs to promote their welfare.

Source: Primary data

The survey carried out indicated that child headed families receive a number of services from NGOs. This therefore indicated that different NGOs have to a bigger extent played a positive role in promoting the welfare of child headed families through services they provide as reported by respondents interviewed.

4.2 Data Analysis

Objective I: Findings on the factors that lead to child headed families

HIV/AIDS

According to the table above, the respondents identified that the major factor leading to child headed families in Arapai is HIV/AIDS with 38% respondents stated that the number of children being orphaned is rapidly increasing in communities with high rates of HIV/AIDS infections especially in Arapai. For example one respondent stated that,

“Many of us are living alone and it is our big sisters and brothers who take care of us because both of our parents died of AIDS. Even our relatives too from the extended families are infected and too weak to care for us. Others are willing to care for us but are too poor.”

This remark thus revealed that HIV/AIDS in the most predominant among the factors leading to child headed families.This concurs with (WHO 1990; Alden, Salole and Williamson 1991) who noted that the appearance of child- headed households in communities affected by AIDS is a recent phenomenon with cases noted in the late 1980s in the Rakai district of Uganda and for the first time in six villages in Masaka district of Uganda where previously no such households had been noted.

Domestic violence

The findings show that domestic violence is another big factor that leads to child headed families. This is evidenced by 23% of the responses got from the field. A participant from focus group discussion also reiterated this. One of the respondents had this to say;

“There are high levels of domestic violence in Arapai which have claimed lives of parents in the families.” This is because many people are still poor, lazy and spend most of their time taking alcohol after which they go back to their homes and torture their wives and children. This at times even results into death of one or both parents.

In addition to that, another participant during the interview had this to say;

Some others due to engaging in domestic violence, have been imprisoned for life and left the older children in the family to are for the other by looking for food, providing security and making decisions in the family which is not easy for their lives.

This thus proved that domestic violence is another serious cause or factor that leads to child headed families.

Divorce

The survey and responses from the field indicated that divorce is another cause for child headed families (CHFs) and this was manifested with 17%. In this case, some community members stated that divorce results from domestic violence which in the end leads to child headed families. This comes in where one of the parents decides to abandon the rest of the family hence leaving the children to suffer thus such situations.

Negligence and neglect by parents

This was evidenced with 11% of the responses from 10 respondents. Some respondents stated some parents just neglect their children due to lack of enough money to buy food, clothing, construct modern houses and to provide medical care for their children. They therefore decide to run away and neglect their children. Others even decide to use the little money they get and have at their disposal to take alcohol leaving their children to struggle on their own for survival.

Mistreatment from parents and relatives

The research study indicated that some child headed families result from children being mistreated by their parents and relatives. This was evidenced by 11% of the responses. For example a certain respondent aged 13 reported to the researcher that,

“My parents died of HIV/AIDS five years back and i was taken on by another family member. She further stated that she was always discriminated because these people thought she was infected and she was at one time sent to fetch firewood and while she was away, the other children of the family were fed.” This was done continuously and forced him to start up his own home.

In supplement, one community leader stated that orphans are always mistreated by their parents especially step mothers. They are for example beaten even when not in wrong, denied food, over worked which forces them to run away from their homes and start up their own families

It was also noted that negligence and neglect by parents leads to child headed families. This in relation to the findings of (Saoke et al 1996:51) which explained that some parents and relatives may consider themselves free of responsibilities towards children due to lack of money to provide basic needs. This thus forces children start up their own families.

Wars

Some child head families are as a result of various wars that have occurred in the past civil wars, tribal wars among others which has increased their number in the area.

Objective II:Findings on challenges faced by children growing up alone in child headed families (CHFs)

Poverty

Children in child headed families were found out to be in adverse poverty. This was manifested by 13% of the respondents in the field. For example a child from one child headed family in Arapai sub county reported to the researcher that;

“She does not go to school because there is no money for fees and to buy all the scholastic materials. Worse still, the schools are too far and need her to board vehicles to reach school in time”. She also explained that she at times goes to school on an empty stomach and even sleeps hungry at times because no money to buy food. This is what one of the respondents remarked.

This study indicated that poverty is a major problem hindering children in child headed families from having a happy life.

Lack of basic needs

The respondents reported that, the major problem affecting children in child headed families is lack of basic needs with 27%. These children lack shelter, food, clothes, clean water and medical care. Participant 6 from one child headed family in Arapaisub county had this to say;

“I have 10 other siblings of which 2 of them are HIV positive. These two need to be taken good care by eating well and in time. Unfortunately, we do not have enough food and when we try to dig in order to get what to eat, people around us steal our food. In addition to that we even live in a poorly grass thatched house that leaks when it rains heavily yet the blankets are few, so we the old ones  surrender to the two infected siblings so that they survive.”

This revealed that children in child headed family lack basic needs since they don’t have money to access those needs.

Have no access to education

During the study, it was found out that these children lacked money to go to school and had no access to education although Universal Primary Education exists today (UPE). This was evidenced by 14%. Respondents explained that this is because they do not have money and parents to pay for their fees. So, even when they dig and get money  to go to school, it is not enough to buy scholastic materials like pens, books, pencils, uniform. In the end, they drop out of school to care for their other sisters and brothers.

Discrimination

According to the data collected, 14% of the responses from the field indicated that children in child headed families are discriminated by either their family members or members of the community. One child head reported that they are discriminated because people think and perceive them as immoral and criminals. Others discriminate them because they are HIV positive and so think that they may infect their children when they associate with them. This tortures them psychologically.

Depression

Children in child headed families suffer from stress which in the end leads to depression according to the study carried out. This was evidenced by responses from 13 respondents representing 12% of the responses. For example a respondent from one of the NGOs stated that these children are affected by the death of their parents and are at times not given the required support and encouragement on how to deal with their emotion. This in the end leads to depression.

Inadequate security

The findings show that, 10 respondents represented by 9% gave lack of security as one of the problems faced by children in child headed families. The respondents explained that these children have no single parent to take care of them, even the members of the extended family are reluctant in protecting them. So, this makes it easier for them to be sexually abused and be kidnapped.

Child labour

According to the findings, got from the field, it was indicated that children in CHF (Child headed families) engaged in child labour. This was evidenced by 9 respondents represented by 8%. The respondents explained that these children are taken to do heavy work like stone mining, provide labour to the rich farmers’ shambas and businesses and are even kidnapped. They too, try to look for work in order to get money and buy basic needs and to care for the other sisters and brothers. For example some community member during focus group discussion explained that;

“These children provide labour by carrying big sacks of posho, digging big acres of land, forced to sell drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and even engage in stone mining. This work is at times not fit for their age and thus affects their life in future.”

This revealed that children in child headed families are forced not child labour whichaffects them psychologically and physically.

Psychological distress

It was also identified that relatives and community members like local authorities do not listen to the problems of these children, do not advise them and counsel them when in wrong but instead  insult them by telling them that they are immoral and just simply punish them. This was evidenced by 3% of the responses. So they get depressed.

When the participants were asked how children in child headed families overcome some of the problems. The respondents had this to remark as shown in the table below when asked how children in child headed families overcome some of their problems.

Get support from NGOs

The table shows that 30 respondents represented by 35% stated that children in child headed families solve their problems by getting support from NGOs.

Get support from churches

It was noted that, children in child headed families solve some of their problems by getting support from churches such as (Pentecostal churches) and Catholic churches. The support given is in form of counseling, clothing, food, building water tanks and wells and in form of academic sponsorship.

Farming

From the findings, 18% of the respondents explained that most of the children in CHFs solve their problems such as poverty, lack of food by carrying out farming in order to get food to eat and sell the surplus to get money to help them access other needs.

Hiring labour

Findings revealed that, 10 respondents represented by 12% explained that most of the children in CHFs solve their problems like poverty and lack of basic needs by hiring labour to people’s work and businesses. For example cutting down trees, slashing people’s compounds and digging among others.

Petty business

Basing on the data collected, 5% of the respondents stated that children in child headed families engage in petty business such as selling mangoes, food, sweets and vegetables and art pieces in order to get money and cater for their basic needs.

Others

Finally, 3 respondents represented by 4% gave other ways in which these children solve some of their problems and these included, through getting support from well wishers in the community that is the good hearted people who are able to feel for others and from community members such as local council members, able bodied individuals, neighbours (friends), members of the extended families and church leaders. These mainly provide food, soap, clothes, shoes, money, advice, counseling and free medical care. They also help in identifying these children and link them to relevant NGOs for help.

Problems faced by children growing up alone in child headed families.

The study reveals that children in child headed families lack basic needs such as clothes, food, shelter, safe water and medical care. This hinders them from having a happy life because they tend to have no money to access those needs as many of them   are too young to work and get money to access those needs. This agrees with (LWF, 2000) which explained that children in these families face a problem of poor access to social services and basic needs.

It was also noted that children resort to child labour after the death of their parents or after their parents divorce. This forces children into employment in hazardous work with its accompanying physical and psychological risks and exposure to various forms of slavery and prostitution, getting engaged in petty jobs, selling the family assets and sometimes in anti social activities. Girls marry at early age or are prostituted and boys join city gangs. This is in relation with the (Ministry of Finance Publication, 1999) findings which explained that children risk and provide labour to hazardous work in order to earn a living for themselves.

It was also noted that children in child headed families have no access to education because they lack money to pay for fees and scholastic materials such as books, pens, pencils and uniforms. Even those who try to attend school end up dropping out of school due to lack of scholastic materials and to care for the siblings even in the existence of Universal Primary Education. This findings agrees with the findings of (Keilland, 2003) which stated that the death of parents weakens social capital which makes it harder for children living alone to get regular education.

Findings reveal that children are discriminated in the community, by their family members (extended family) and by community members. They are discriminated because people think and perceive them as criminals, immoral families and others discriminate them because they are HIV positive and think that they may infect their children when they associate with them. However, no research has been done to prove this finding.

The research study reveals that absolute poverty is another financial problem hindering children in child headed families from having a happy life. Other researchers such as (Keilland, 2003) emphasized this stating that it is because there is a high number of adult deaths which leads to the growing number of orphans. These have caused a shock to traditional child protection mechanisms in many areas, more over social capital is weakening as families and social systems disintegrate thus leading to a situation where child social inequalities exist within families and communities. As a result it becomes harder for these children to get access to basic needs.

The study shows that the impact of this heavy loss of parental psychological, moral support and love on one hand and the inability to meet basic needs on the other hand which enormously manifests itself in a high level of stress due to multiple tasks beyond their physical and emotional capacity, deterioration in their physical and psychological constitution including a decline in their health and nutritional status. This is in relation to what (Ritcher, 2006) said that children in child headed families often lack adult support, stable care, active feeding, supervision which thus leads to stress.

Objective III:The role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families.

Child protection

The findings show that child protection is one of the services provided by ANPPCAN (African Network for Prevention and Protection of Child Abuse and Neglect). This NGO protects the rights of children, protects children from child abuse and neglect. This is reported with 9 respondents represented by 22.5%. Child protection is done through raising awareness about children’s rights to children from being engaged in child.

It also takes action in case raising awareness about children from being engaged in child labour. It also takes action in case child abuse occurs and provides psycho socio support in form of counseling to children who have been victimized.

Vocational skills training

The findings revealed that children receive vocation skills training from the Orphans Community Based Organization (OCBO) these skills help children to start up their own income generating activities from which they can earn a living. Respondents explained that OCBO provides training in plumbing, mechanical engineering, tailoring, and hair dressing to enable children in child headed families start up their own job. For example participant 4 had this to say;

“OCBO trained me skills in tailoring and so I am now able to earn a living, cater for my personal need and buy needs for my siblings”.

This thus indicated that vocational skills training is one of the services provided by NGOs in a bid to promote welfare.

Medical treatment

It was found out that NGOs provide medical treatment and one way of promoting the welfare of child headed families. HSP (Health Sciences Programme), ACA (ArapaiCounselors Association) and Uganda cares are some of the NGOs that provide medical treatment. These all provide Anti Retrial therapy whereby children who are HIV positive receive free ARVs, mosquito nets and treatment for STIs and STDs. They also provide HIV awareness raising, psycho social support in form of evidenced by different children who supported this saying that;

“They now have hopes of living longer although they were born HIV positive because they are able to access free drugs and counseling from RACA, RHSP and Uganda Cares.

This thus showed that NGOs have played a positive role in promoting by ensuring that children have a right to life.

Basic needs and nutrition treatment

From the responses got 12.5% of the respondents reported that NGOs such as World Vision provides basic needs such as food, water, shelter, clothing and shoes as one way of promoting welfare. They also stated that World Vision construct wells and provides water tanks for safe water to the children in child headed families. Findings also indicated that World Vision provides nutrition treatment by giving out good breeds of cattle, goats, vegetables, beans, sweet potatoes and maize to ensure that these children get a balanced diet needed to prevent their bodies from diseases.

Education support and material support for income generating activities

Respondents reported that they receive education support in form of school fees payment and scholastic materials such as books, pens, pencils, towels, basins, soap, toothpaste and mathematical sets as one way of creating a favourable study environment to enable them remain school as one way of accessing education. Respondents further explained that they get material support in form of bicycles, sowing machines and hair dressing chemicals after attaining skills. This is to enable them start up their own jobs to earn a living. These are all provided by through use of funds from rotary club. This is indicated by 11.1% of the responses.

Education support and scholastic materials, it was reported that CHAU (Child Aid Uganda) provides education support to children in child headed families. This is reported with 10.4% of the responses. This is done through paying school fees and providing scholastic materials. This was evidenced by children who were being supported by the organization who remarked that;

“They had spent 2 years out of school and were missing daily due to lack of school fees, CHAU came in and started supporting and sponsoring the m. So, life is no longer the same as those days when they used to remain home and dig from January to December.”

This in the end showed that education support has helped children in child headed families access education in order to become self reliant.

In conclusion, the above findings indicated that majority of the respondents agreed that NGOs play a positive role in promoting the welfare of child headed families through different services they provide such as medical treatment , basic needs provision, education support, material support, nutrition treatment in form of supplementary feeding, material support for income generating activities  and vocational still training.

Findings reveal that NGOs have to a bigger extent played a positive role in promoting the welfare of child headed families. They have worked as the major institutions of advocacy for child welfare initiatives to which children are entitled as a right. In relation to this (Luzze, 2005) said that  NGOs provide support activities such as medical care, supplementary feeding, home repairs and constructions, vocational skills training, fees payment, scholastic materials, have repairs and construction which promote the welfare of child headed families.

They reveal that children have been protected from child abuse and neglect through child protection service provided by ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter. This organization has protected the rights of children through raising awareness, providing psycho- socio support in form of counseling to children who has been abused. This however contradicts with the findings of (Luzze, 2005) because he did not mention child protection as one of the role played by NGOs to promote the welfare of child headed families.

The study reveals that children in child headed families have been able to start up income generating activities due to obtaining vocational skills from OCBO which provides vocational skills training to these families. This has solved the problem of poverty because the skills have enabled them earn a living after starting up jobs. This finding agrees with the findings of (Luzze 2005) which explains that that NGOs provide vocational skills in a bid to promote the welfare of child headed families.

Findings reveal that children’s health has been promoted through the free medical treatment in terms of ARVs, counseling children who are HIV positive NGOs such as RHSP, RACA and Uganda cares. These NGOs have also provided HIV/AIDS awareness raising. This is in support  to (Plan International 2005) where it stated that NGOs provide medical care in order to promote welfare through promoting health of children in child headed families.

They reveal that the capacity of children in child headed families has been built. This is because NGOs CHAU provide education support in form of school fees payment and provision of scholastic materials. So, children have been able to access education. In relation to this (UNICEF, 2004) agrees that NGOs provide education support as a means of promoting welfare.

Findings revealed that basic needs got from NGOs such as food, water, shelter and nutrition treatment through supplementary feeding have promoted the welfare of child headed families. Children are able to get a balanced diet which improves their healthy. This is because World Vision as an NGO provides these needs and even carries out home repairs and constructions for the homeless. This finding aggress with (Luzze 2005 and Wakhweya 2005) where they stated that NGOs provide supplementary feeding, home repair and construction to children in child headed families to promote their welfare.

The findings revealed that NGOs have helped solve financial problems such as absolute poverty. This is because of the material support that encourages income generating activities to move on effectively. It was for example revealed that AIDS Network provides sowing machines, hair dressing chemicals and bicycles to children in child headed families after training. This however contradicts with findings of (Fredrick, 2002) which stated that NGOs provide credit schemes such as loans and grants which is not the case because it was found out that most of them provide material support.

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the conclusion and recommendation of the findings presented   in the previous chapter. The conclusion which is also based on the findings of the study and the finally the recommendation.

5.2 Conclusion

Majority of the responses showed HIV/AIDS as the major cause of child headed families alongside other factors such as domestic violence, divorce, negligence by parents and mistreatment from parents.

The researcher found out that the pathetic and difficult conditions under which orphans and children in child headed families live often evoke quick and rushed sympathetic response from various NGOs such as ANPPCAN, CHAU, OCBO, HSP, World Vision and Uganda Cares. These responses are in terms of providing child protection services, material support in terms of food, clothing, fees, scholastic materials, provision of safe water and sanitation, nutrition treatment through supplementary feeding, medical support and psychosocial support in terms of providing guidance and counseling. These are all provided to ensure that the children live a happy and satisfying life.

The NGOs have played a vital role in promoting the welfare of child headed families. Respondents explained that in the absence of the strengthened government social services for children in   crisis, NGOs have filled these gaps and so people see them as “Saviours sent from Heaven.” This is because hey have helped to solve the problems of children in child headed families such as child abuse, lack of basic needs, depression, poverty and lack of access to education. NGOs have helped build capacity of children and have empowered children in child headed families through providing education support, protecting children’s rights. In this way they have been empowered to cater for their families in the future. Due to the vocational skills obtained from vocational skills training. The responses got from the field also indicated that these skills have made these children creative and have been able to start up their own income generating activities such as saloons, carpentry workshops, garagesamong others. This thus indicates that NGOs play a positive role in promoting the welfare of child headed families although there are some gaps that have been left in counseling.

5.2 Recommendations

There is still need to empower the child headed families so that they could cater for their needs in the near future. This can be done by ensuring that more vocational skills training is done are initiated so that these children can be able to start up jobs in order to create self reliant and sustainable communities.

NGOs should train counseling skills to community members such as church leaders, LC1 members who can help to give  a hand in guiding and  counseling of children with problems in the far located areas or villages in absence of NGOs. In most sub counties, and villages the respondents reported that little or no counseling had been done by the community members because they lacked counseling skills.

Housing in fill and consolidations should be done that is, families be supported in improving their “ shell houses to provide adequate levels of accommodation, privacy, ventilation and sanitation in case financial resources are not enough to construct for all Child Headed Families new homes.

There should be full involvement of direct beneficiaries like the orphans (children in child headed families) in the implementation of projects that aim at promoting the welfare of children. This is because at times NGOs implement projects that do not satisfy the most pressing need. So in the end, these projects are not beneficial to the vulnerable children.

Government should work hand in hand with NGOs by funding NGOs to start up different income generating activities for vulnerable children in child headed families and build sustainable communities that is those that have access to jobs, amenities and in the development of income generating activities. This will reduce dependency and even help the extended families of children in child headed families to assist in promoting the wellbeing of these children.

5.3 Area for further studies

The researcher recommends that further studies should be done on the following areas;

• Critical analysis on the challenges faced by NGOs in implementing poverty reduction strategies in developing counties.
• The role played by NGOs in promoting the human rights of children and women.
• The role of NGOs in reducing food security among the child headed families

REFERENCES

Bledsoe, C.(1989) The cultural meaning of AIDS and condoms for stable heterosexual relations in Africa: Recent evidence from the local print media. Paper presented at the IUSSP seminar on Population policy in sub- Saharan Africa. Kinshasa, 27 Feb-2 March.

Brodzinsky D.M.AV and Ambron S.R (1986) Lifespan Human Development (3^rd edition) New York: CBS College Publication.

Foster, Geoff (1997) Factors leading to the establishment of child headed households: The case of Zimbabwe, Health transition review, supplement 2 to volume 7.

Gregson S.G, Garnett G. and Anderson R. (1997) Projecting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa. Paper presented at IUSSP/ University of Durban conference on the Socio- demographic Impact of AIDS in Africa, 3-6 February, Durban.

Hunter (1990) Orphans as a window on the AIDS epidemic in sub- Saharan Africa: Initial results and implications of a study in Uganda. Social Science and medicine, 316:681-690.

Keilland A. (2003) Presentation for the World Bank on orphans and vulnerable children, May 14-15.

Leighton C. (1996) The direct and indirect costs of HIV/AIDS in Kenya: Socio- economic impact and policy implications, ed.S.Foresythe and B.Rau, Arlington: Family health international/AIDSCAP.

Lutheran World Federation (2000) Children living in difficult circumstances: Vulnerability and coping mechanisms of child headed household in Rakai.

Luzze, Fredick. (2002) ‘’Survival in child headed households”. A study on the impact of World Vision support on coping strategies in child headed households in Kakuuto count, Rakai district Uganda.

Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development (2003): The national orphans and vulnerable children policy, Kampala, Uganda

Nalugoda F, Wawer M.J, Konde J.K, Lule R. Gray R. Serwanda, Sewankamba and Li C. (1997) HIV infection in rural households, Rakai district, Uganda.

Natukunda E. (1993) Findings and recommendations of the operational Research on the situation of Orphans.

Richter, C.P (1959) The phenomenon of unexplained sudden death in animals and man. In the meaning of death ed. H. Feigely. New York. McGraw Hill.

Saoke, P.R and Blair C. (1996) Another song begins: Children orphaned by AIDS. in Kenya: In Socio- economic impact and policy implications ed S. Forsythe and B. Rau. Arlington: Family health international/AIDSCAP.

Sengendo J. (1989) Orphaned and disabled children in Luweero and Kabale districts and in Uganda child care institutions: a comparative profile to the general child population. Kampala: Makerere University.

Plan International (1997)”Children without care” Submission for the 16^th September, Kampala Uganda.

Shimelis T. (2007) “HIV/AIDS and emerging challenge of children heading households”.The African child policy Forum, Addis Ababa.

Sloth – Neilson J. (2002) “Too little?Too late? The implications of Grootboom case for state responses to child headed households”. University of Cape town .

Uganda Constitution (1995):www.parliament.co.ug/Constitution.

UN Declaration on the rights of a child (1989): www.unicef.org.

UNAIDS (2004) Report on the global AIDS epidemic

UNICEF (1990) Children and AIDS.An impending calamity press.

UNICEF (1994) Action for children affected by AIDS- programme profiles and lessons learned. New York: World Health Organization / UNICEF

Wakhweya (2002) Situational Analysis of orphans in Uganda, orphans and their households: caring for the future today, Kampala.

World Bank 2003

World Health Organization (1990) Draft discussion paper on the care and support of children of HIV infected parents, 14 September. Geneva.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX I: STRUCTURED INTERVIEW FOR THE NGO STAFF

Dear respondent.

I am Akajo Rebecca pursuing a degree in development Studies. A research study is being conducted in Arapai Sub County –SorotiDistrict about the role of NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families. I am pleased to inform you that you have been earmarked as one of the respondents to provide information on this research topic. Your information was treated with a high level of confidentiality and it is purely for academic purpose. Your cooperation is highly required.

Please answer the following questions below by ticking the preferred choice for example “Yes” or “No” or fill in the blank spaces as indicated.

SECTION A: BIO DATA

1. Age
2. 10-20
3. 21-30
4. Above 31
5. Gender
6. Male
7. Female
8. Educational level attained
9. Secondary level
10. Tertiary level
11. University level
12. Others Specify ………………………….

SECTION B: FACTORS THAT LEAD TO CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

4. What do you think leads to child headed families?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

SECTION C: PROBLEMS FACED BY CHILDREN IN CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

5.What are the problems they face?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

SECTION D: ROLE OF NGOS IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

6. How have NGOs helped in promoting the welfare of child headed families?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Do you think the support given is sufficient?

Yes                               No

b). Explain how?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

THANK YOU

APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR CHILDREN IN CHILD HEADED FAMILIES

Where are your parents?

6. What do your think leads to child headed families
7. What are challenges do you face as head of family?

9 a) Are there NGOs that have come up to provide welfare services in child headed households? (Mention those NGOs)

1. c) In your opinion what are some of the services provided by NGOs in promoting the welfare of child headed families?
2. d) Are the services adequate?

THANK YOU

APPENDIX III: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

1. What do you think are the factors that lead to child headed families?
2. What are some of the problems these children face in child headed families?
3. Have NGOs come around to provide any support to children in child headed families? (Mention them).
4. What are some of the services provided by the NGOs in a bid to support these children?
5. Have the services provide by NGOs been of great use towards promoting the welfare of children in child headed families?

THANK YOU