Challenges facing ophands and vulnerable children in SOS homes. A case study of SOS Children's village, Kumasi-Ghana

Abstract

Parental deaths and illnesses are childhood traumatic events that are associated with several negative physical and psychosocial health problems. Out of the 140 million children classified as orphans, 15.1 million have lost both parents. Among the continents in the world, Africa is recognised as the largest continent with a higher proportion of vulnerable children. In Ghana, the number of vulnerable and orphaned children has grown as result of HIV and AID’s and increasing rural urban migration. In Ghana, Boadu (2015) reports that, the increasing number of orphans have led to a corresponding increase in orphanages established to assist these vulnerable children. A study conducted in some Ghanaian orphanage homes found that in as much as the orphanage homes are doing their best to provide the necessary support to these children yet there are many basic amenities that are lacking. It is in this regard that this aims to empirically investigate the challenges facing orphans aged in Kumasi SOS village, Ghana. The study was based on a qualitative research based on an exploratory research and case study approach. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. An in-depth interview guide was used as the main instrument for primary data collection. The data collected was synthesized, integrated and harmonized comprehensively to allow for a clear outline of analysis and for ease of understanding based on Qualitative Content Analysis and aid of the NVivo software. The children expressed that they were very happy in the Kumasi SOS Village. The source of happiness and satisfaction came from their access to education, the food, having a mother and siblings from the village/having a family. The study found out that one of the sources of sadness among the children relates to Physical and Verbal abuse- leading to insecurity. The study found that, most of the orphans see no partiality among them in the orphan homes. The village has made great improvement in caring and nurturing orphans in the village. However, in their bid to achieve their goals, certain equally important aspects have been overlooked. These pertinent differences need to be recognized and appreciated. The study recommends that caring for the children implies that the village should also review their goals and approaches to accommodate the identified challenges.