A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Residential care facilities play a significant role in accommodating orphaned and vulnerable children both in South Africa and internationally. However, there is scant information about the experiences adolescents have of residential care life in South Africa. This study explores the experiences of...

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Main Authors: Xolani Shabangu, Raisuyah Bhagwan, Fathima Dewan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CELCIS 2024-11-01
Series:Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
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author Xolani Shabangu
Raisuyah Bhagwan
Fathima Dewan
author_facet Xolani Shabangu
Raisuyah Bhagwan
Fathima Dewan
author_sort Xolani Shabangu
collection DOAJ
description Residential care facilities play a significant role in accommodating orphaned and vulnerable children both in South Africa and internationally. However, there is scant information about the experiences adolescents have of residential care life in South Africa. This study explores the experiences of adolescents at a residential care setting, in the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. The study was conducted using a qualitative research methodology. Twenty-six participants were recruited using non-probability purposive sampling methods. Findings indicate that children in residential care have both positive and negative experiences of residential care. The findings that were significant highlighted adolescents’ emotions related to growing up in a residential care setting and key issues around the experiences of support and care within these settings. Two core themes were identified using thematic analysis. Firstly, the daily life experiences of growing up in the residential care facility, and secondly, their experiences of support and care therein. These findings are relevant to improving child care services at residential care facilities in South Africa and enabling the wellbeing of adolescents.
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series Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
spelling doaj-art-dc58c461fbda46c5aabe9d3645197d792025-08-20T02:18:55ZengCELCISScottish Journal of Residential Child Care2976-93532024-11-01232214510.17868/strath.00090994A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaXolani ShabanguRaisuyah BhagwanFathima DewanResidential care facilities play a significant role in accommodating orphaned and vulnerable children both in South Africa and internationally. However, there is scant information about the experiences adolescents have of residential care life in South Africa. This study explores the experiences of adolescents at a residential care setting, in the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. The study was conducted using a qualitative research methodology. Twenty-six participants were recruited using non-probability purposive sampling methods. Findings indicate that children in residential care have both positive and negative experiences of residential care. The findings that were significant highlighted adolescents’ emotions related to growing up in a residential care setting and key issues around the experiences of support and care within these settings. Two core themes were identified using thematic analysis. Firstly, the daily life experiences of growing up in the residential care facility, and secondly, their experiences of support and care therein. These findings are relevant to improving child care services at residential care facilities in South Africa and enabling the wellbeing of adolescents. residential caresouth africaadolescents
spellingShingle Xolani Shabangu
Raisuyah Bhagwan
Fathima Dewan
A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care
residential care
south africa
adolescents
title A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_fullStr A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_short A home away from home for adolescents: narratives on residential care life in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_sort home away from home for adolescents narratives on residential care life in ethekwini kwazulu natal south africa
topic residential care
south africa
adolescents
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